We’re pleased to introduce the next employee spotlight. Meet Kirsty Boden, Molecular Biology Technical Sales Specialist at VH Bio!
1.Describe what your job entails.
My job involves visiting customers, and potential customers, to explore how our molecular biology products could be useful to them. Following sales, I also continue to support the customer by providing training, conducting demonstrations and general problem-solving.
2. What is your career and/or education background?
Before working at VH Bio I completed my PhD at the University of Nottingham in the Epigenetic regulation of Alzheimer’s disease. My PhD gave me a good work ethic and most importantly resilience, I also figured out early on that research wasn’t for me and I was far more interested in the commercial aspect of science, something that I might not have realised if it wasn’t for the opportunities that I had during my PhD.
3. What is your favourite part of the job?
Interacting with customers and talking about their work. It is awesome that I get to be involved in such a huge variety of science! It’s even better when a product I have suggested has a positive impact on someone’s work.
4. In your opinion, what is the greatest advancement in the history of science?
Quite a few of my colleagues have said the discovery of DNA and I agree! As an epigeneticist I might also say Lemark and his Giraffes, he was wrong about evolution but was maybe the first person to identify alternative ways for traits to be inherited other than genes.
5. When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a writer because I loved reading so much. However, I quickly learned as a teenager that I hate writing, so that was the end of that!
6. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I mostly enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I also love keeping fit by going to the gym and fitness classes (although I have slowed down a bit lately). I also really enjoy trying new things whether that be new sports, food or hobbies.
7. If you could be any animal, what you be and why?
I think some kind of migrating bird because that way I would get to see so much of the world and could fly off whenever I felt like it.
8. What was the first car you owned?
Rather boringly my first car was my mother’s old car which was a Vauxhall Meriva, not the most common of first cars but the boot was like a tardis so while very uncool it was pretty useful!
9. Describe your perfect weekend.
A nice lie-in on Saturday followed by a lovely breakfast. Probably cooked by someone else and preferably in bed. Followed by a day of reading. In the evening I’d go to my sisters’ house to eat with my family and play some games together but be home early. Sunday I’d start the day with a lovely long walk in the countryside followed by a roast in a pub somewhere.
10. What annoys you?
People who act like things are a lot worse than they are. If you are successful or good at something why not be proud of that?
11. If you were king or queen for a day, what one law would you change or introduce?
I would introduce flexible and home working for all (where possible) because it is awesome!
12. If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is a tricky question. Maybe a roast because you could have loads of variations and mix it up with different veg and trimmings.
13. If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?
I’m imagining a lovely little beach hut in Bali so probably some factor 50, a few books and maybe a friend.
14. What is the first concert you attended?
I think it was a Paramore concert. My sister’s loved them and I knew one of their songs so thought it was a great idea – it was not…..It was actually really boring being at an arena concert listening to songs I did not know. I much prefer smaller gigs with lesser-known bands.