Laboratories at the IOI are dynamic workplaces where microbiologists, biochemists and others come together to develop new antibiotics and study drug-resistant bacteria.

Laboratory technicians are intrinsic to the success of a lab’s research goals – from ensuring materials are where they should be, to handling precision equipment, a lab tech’s day is as varied as it is busy.

Sarah Langhorne, a lab tech at the IOI talks about a typical day at her job. 

What are your responsibilities as a lab technician?

Lab techs are responsible for a myriad of different things. I need to know how all the equipment in the lab works, to calibrate them and troubleshoot any issues. . I also maintain the supplies of various chemicals and consumables, monitoring their stock and requesting  orders when needed.

As a lab tech, I have the opportunity to contribute to lots of different research projects. I help set up experiments, for example by pouring agar plates and preparing dilutions of different chemicals. I also help with a lot of the more repetitive work involving samples- like preparing extracted DNA ready for sequencing. 

At the moment, I’m helping the BALANCE and BARNARDS project teams to inoculate samples of bacteria from different hospital sites onto selective agar plates. Only certain species will grow on each plate, so we can identify what bacteria are present.

Every day is different, so I have to be flexible and ready to help with something new. Our research programmes are very busy, and lab techs are crucial to keep the work running smoothly.

Sarah Langhorne streaking an agar plate with bacteria inside a safety cabinet.

What are some challenges you face in your role?

In one day, I could be working with samples of bacteria, viruses and phages, all part of different projects. While the tasks may be similar, I have to be focused to make sure that I’m following procedures and working on time. 

Bacteria don’t work to deadlines. Sometimes we have to completely change our plans if a sample hasn’t grown as much as we need, or we get unexpected results. We need to have good communication across the team to respond to these kinds of challenges quickly and get back on track! 

How has your career journey led to you becoming a lab technician?

I completed my BSc in Biology at the University of Portsmouth , and an MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I’ve always been interested in microbiology and infectious diseases. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to stay in academia after my Masters degree, so I took a job with the civil service sequencing COVID-19, which gave me some more lab-based experience. Joining the IOI as a lab tech has given me an oversight of what goes into the running of a busy research programme- both the science and administrative sides. 

What is the best part of working for the IOI?

Everyone is so lovely, that no matter what you’re working on that day you know you’re going to have a good time! 

My work on COVID-19 at the civil service really highlighted our vulnerability to pathogens. Due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics, a precious resource, are become ineffective against ordinary infections. Working as part of a research institute like the IOI, which aims to find solutions for this global health crisis, is really rewarding. It’s nice to come into work knowing that you are contributing to research that can have a real-world impact at the end of it.