Miss Alexandra Holme

Research Lab Supervisor SMIB Professional Services

About

Personal Statement

Since graduating with an honours degree in Applied Biology I began working in the pharmacology department of the University of Liverpool investigating neurotoxicity of various antimalarial drugs for the World Health Organisation with Dr Graham McLean and Prof Vyvyan Howard. I then moved to the School of Biological Sciences and worked with Dr John Smith’s group and company Pepsyn, isolating growth factors from cheese whey and developing nutriceuticals. After another short term contract in Dr McLean’s lab I returned to the Biosciences department and joined Prof Jerry Turnbull’s Glycobiology lab as the senior research technician, a post I was lucky to have for five and half years before funding ran out and I moved to Liverpool John Moore’s University to begin a PhD. Twelve months into the PhD I was given the opportunity of a permanent core funded technical post back at the University of Liverpool in the Biosciences department which I chose to accept. I have been in this role since 2011 initially as the senior research technician for lab D but since the technical restructure in 2017 I am now the Research Laboratory Supervisor for the first and ground floor Biosciences laboratories.

Specific area of focus:

Research on this floor includes the study of key biological macromolecules that influence signalling and regulatory processes in disease, enabling identification of disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Techniques used include, tissue culture, molecular and structural biology, protein purification, histology etc. My post involves the day-to-day running and overall management of the labs including line management of a small team of technicians. In addition, I manage the lab accounts (placing orders, recharges etc.), and manage space in both the laboratories and shared offices on the first floor. I am also a sustainability advocate for the Institute.

Areas of expertise:

Lab management
Health and safety including local lab/TC inductions, Safety inspections
Preparation of SOPs, Risk Assessments
Trained in sending dangerous goods through the post (pathogens, dry ice etc.)
Tissue culture (primary, secondary, stem cells etc.)
Molecular biology
Immunohistochemistry
Image analysis
Microscopy
Gel electrophoresis
HPLC