Steven Servin
What is your current role and what does a typical week look like?
As the Flow Cytometry Specialist at Warwick, my week is a blend of scientific consultation, technical support, and administrative management, all fueled by a healthy dose of caffeine. My primary responsibilities include:
1. User Consultation and Project Meetings: I meet with current and prospective users to discuss their research projects, identifying challenges that can be addressed through flow cytometry.
2. Technical Support and Training: In the Flow Shared Resource Lab, I provide hands-on assistance to users, guiding them through their experiments. Additionally, I conduct training sessions to empower users to become proficient in running their experiments independently.
3. Administrative Duties: A significant part of my role involves the administrative management of the facility. I am responsible for writing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs), which are crucial for maintaining consistency and confidence among our users.
Nationality: I am Mexican!
Which part of your role do you enjoy the most, and what are the biggest challenges?
I enjoy the versatility of my role; the combination of scientific work and administrative responsibilities keeps the job consistently exciting and engaging.
Who would you say is your role model in your personal and/or professional life?
My parents.
Which skills help you most in being able to perform your role?
Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are indispensable in my job. On a typical day in the lab, I might work with at least two different branches of the tree of life. This requires not only a solid understanding of the biology behind each experiment but also the ability to adapt the technology accordingly.
How has your education or roles previous to joining Life Sciences, informed your interests, and why did you choose this career direction?
With a degree and an MSc in Biology, followed by a PhD in Synthetic Biology, my focus naturally leans towards the biological questions within the scientific community. Throughout my professional journey, I have extensively utilized Flow Cytometry, a technology that I find truly fascinating. This fascination led me to pursue a career centered around it. Flow Cytometry is remarkably versatile, applicable across various research areas. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to work with lasers!
What is your favourite place on campus and why?
That would be Gibbet Hill Campus, a place I sometimes call home. We've got a lot of green and wildlife. We could do with a shop closer...
Can you give an example of something that has made you feel part of the community while in Life Sciences, and what could be improved to enable this?
The community here in SLS is incredibly friendly and close-knit; it feels like a big family. Like any community (and family), we do encounter occasional issues, but having the freedom to express ourselves and address instances of misconduct undoubtedly helps us create a better environment.
What are your main interests or passions, outside of work?
I love painting miniatures, playing dungeons & dragons, listening to jazz, enjoying the few rays of sunshine, reading a good science fiction or history book, hiking, lots and lots of stuff...
Interview date June 2024