BSc Forensic Science
Name
Lydia Carrie
What course did you study?
Forensic Science
Year of graduation?
2017
Where are you from originally?
Ormskirk, Lancashire
Why University of Cumbria, what attracted you?
Beautiful scenery, fascinating course and small campus.
Job title
Product Development Chemist
Current employer
Carlson Filtration Ltd
What sector/industry do you work in?
Science, Filtration and Manufacturing
Briefly describe your role and responsibilities
Develop new products and develop existing products for optimal performance, specific to customers needs. Analyse customer products to create a match for those products.
Filter samples of valuable liquids to test and demonstrate the performance of the filter media produced in the factory. Write reports and share findings. Present at meetings and provide laboratory tours where required. Assist with production trials in the factory, as part of the development progress.
Briefly describe your career progression from graduation to where you are now
I got hired as maternity cover for R&D laboratory technician, in September after graduating. I completed a year of the maternity cover, and when the woman who was on maternity leave returned, I got promoted into a more senior role. Promoted from laboratory technician to product development chemist.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
Developing a product, completing numerous trials and tests to get a suitable option, trialing this in the factory and then sending the product out to customers, then getting promising results. Knowing that the product will be released to sale after months of hard work developing it.
What are your ambitions, now and in the future?
In the future I hope to do something more specific to my degree, however for the time being I am happy being in a laboratory setting to develop my career and gain experience! My dreams are working with fingerprints, as I based my dissertation on this I have a huge interest!
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you just graduated?
Don’t worry that you didn’t quite get the grade that you wanted, and to be proud that through all the struggles you went through, that you got a degree that you should be proud of! Also just apply for roles that you think you aren’t qualified to do, because sometimes that won’t matter!
What top tips would you give to new alumni who are wishing to pursue a similar career to you?
Start off applying for any job that sounds interesting to you, I’m not in a job that I expected, however, I love my role and it’s opened my mind to other areas of science which I had never previously thought about exploring!!
Do you have any support messages for the class of 2020, just embarking on their careers during the Covid-19 pandemic?
You are stronger than you think you are, I’ve doubted myself my entire life and now I am in a job which I love, further in my career than I thought I’d be at 24 years old!
You are capable of anything, and I genuinely think that you can do anything you set your mind to! Never be afraid to reach out to your lecturers and other staff at university, because they have supported me so much since leaving! They will support you with words of wisdom and praise and that’s just what is needed sometimes!!
The pandemic will end and your future is just beginning!