Federica Pandolfini

What does a typical day in your role look like?

As a Scientist in the Mechanistic Pharmacology team, I specifically develop and carry out cell-based assays to identify and characterise future cancer drugs. My role is lab-based so I spend a lot of time in the lab, culturing cancer cells and using them in a lot of different cell-based assays. I then analyse the data I have gathered in the lab and write up the results. I also attend project and team meetings, where I can share my findings with the team. 

What was your journey to getting a job after graduating?

During my MRes, I decided I wanted to do research (and possibly not stay in academia), I started looking for jobs on LinkedIn, Indeed, Prospects, you name it! I also applied for the Cancer Genomics Scientist Training Program (STP), but didn't get in. In the end, two companies got back to me to join them for a first and the second stage interview; when they both offered me a job, I then accepted my current role at Cancer Research Horizons.

How has your course helped you in your career?

My career path so far has been perfectly aligned with my course(s). Graduating from BSc Biomedical Science and then a Cancer Sciences MRes, I have a strong background in cancer biology and research, which has been of huge help in my new role. Both my courses also allowed me to get hands-on experience in a lab setting, which confirmed to me that I wanted to become a lab-based scientist.

What were the best things about your course?

I think my Biomedical Science course was great as it really covered a lot of different aspects of human biology! It is a great course to get you on the science path if you are not entirely sure what you want to do after, and it provides a great set of transferable skills such as writing, public speaking, team work and resilience! 

What are your top tips for students graduating today?

Getting your first job can be quite daunting but it's not all bad! One of the most difficult things for me was deciding what I wanted to do, as that seemed to be very different to a lot of my friends. My first tip is to do your research and prepare: knowing exactly what you are looking for and what you have to offer is a great place to start. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, there are people whose job is to help you kick start your career, so take advantage of those resources! Finally, and this is very cliché, stay resilient: it is a very competitive field in very competitive times, but a great job is out there for you somewhere!