Profile

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Rachel Armitage

    • About Me:

      I live in Leicester with my husband and daughter. I work as a Technical Services Manager in a School of Archaeology and Ancient History. I enjoy walking and mountain biking. I also have a sweet tooth and like eating chocolate!

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      I love being outdoors, ideally I like to be in the hills and mountains. Though I tend not to enjoy riding up the hills, more riding down them.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • My Work:

      I work in a lab looking at items from archaeological sites using microscopes and other methods.

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      I help support other peoples research by looking at their samples under the microscope. These samples can be looking at hand axes, daggers and fibres looking to identify where they came from and how they were used. I also look at samples for my own research and these can include if a medicine is what it says it is.

      Another part of my job is to go out into the field and to help on archaeological digs.

    • My Typical Day:

      I cycle into work every day, no matter the weather. I usually start work at 8am, I tend to have a cup of tea and plan my day. I will often look at various samples under the microscope with students and staff. Some days I will teach students about microscopy and other days I can be doing outreach work. Each day I can be looking at something new. At the moment there is a lot of training, as I am new to all the survey kit. I normally finish work around 4.30pm.

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      I really enjoy my job, as it can be different day to day. I love working as part of the archaeology team, as they are supportive and friendly. I enjoy doing research and teaching students.

    Candidate CV questions (extra)

    • Education:

      I went to school in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, I stayed at the same school to do my A-levels. I was the only student to do A-level Chemistry, so the headteacher cancelled the course. If it wasn’t for my chemistry teacher,  teaching me in her free periods I wouldn’t have passed my exams. I then went to Keele University to study chemistry and biology.

    • Qualifications:

      I left school  with 10 GCSE’s, including Maths, English and Double Science.

      I did Biology, Chemistry and History A levels and AS PE.

      I have BSc (Hons) in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry and Biology and a PhD in rapid detection methods for substandard and falsified medicines.

    • Work History:

      When I left university I went to work in industry as an analytical chemist, I would test pharmaceutical medicines to various specifications to make sure that they were safe for people to take. I then changed roles within the company, as I wanted to use my biology degree and worked in cell culture.

      I then spent 15 years working at DMU as a Senior Lab Technician, initially I only took the job as a ‘stop gap’ as I wanted to work in industry. Throughout my time I have been able to complete my PhD part time, (where I looked to find substandard and falsified medicines using various methods), teach students and take part in outreach activities. Since taking this job I have been able to work with fantastic colleagues and friends across the university and from other universities and industries. Highlights include looking at knife damage, fingermarks, gunshot residue and substandard and falsified medicines by electron microscopy.

    • Current Job:

      I have been in my current role for ~8 months and work as a Technical Services Manager in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History and the University of Leicester. Essentially, I look after and manage the labs, fieldwork equipment and technicians in the School.

      We have labs that look at samples under different microscopes, some that use light and others that use electrons! We also have survey kit to see if anything is buried under the ground, for example the King in the car park.

    • Employer:

      University of Leicester

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Friendly, mountain biker microscopist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Physiotherapist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        For wearing trainers instead of shoes

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Photographer

        What's your favourite food?

        Chocolate

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