Profile
Henry Jenkins
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About Me:
I moved to Bristol in September of this year (2021), to start my training to become a Clinical Scientist!
Since moving here I’ve joined the labs running club, we go running once a week in a group which keeps me fit and healthy.
I absolutely love all sports, at the moment I am obsessed with golf (it changes every 6 months)!
In my spare time away from my hobbies, I like cooking tasty food and eating it!
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When I was at school, where you are sitting now, I really did not know what I wanted to do with my future. My passions were spread among playing sports and music, learning about science and literature.
Fortunately at that time, students were encouraged to attend ‘work experience’ weeks, these give you first hand insight into a potential job that you might like to do in the future.
I did my work experience at a local hospital, where I was introduced to different departments like medical physics and got to talk to professionals who worked in the NHS like physiotherapists and nurses.
When I finished school, I chose the A levels that suited me, with an emphasis on Science and English Literature… (I quickly dropped the literature, I soon realised that reading is something I enjoy and didn’t want it to be a chore…).
One day when I was studying in the library, I came across a New Scientist article (this is a great journal to start reading if you are interested or want to get into science…), which was all about the applications of pig extracellular matrix and regenerating muscle tissue. I remember being awestruck at this, I wanted to learn more and that’s what I did.
I went on to study Biomedical sciences at the University of Surrey (a fancy term for biology combined with subjects that surround medicine and medical research). From there, I studied Stem cells, development and regenerative medicine at the University of Southampton.
It was during my Masters where I was able to get my hands on extra cellular matrices to try and answer some of the questions I had from when I read my article… My project was really interesting; we were trying to regenerate broken bones from injectable gels!
Despite really enjoyed my time in research, I felt that I wanted to gain a better understanding of the patient perspective. So, I decided to take a step back from research and get a job working in the NHS as a Genetic technologist at my local hospital.
Here I got a taste for how the NHS works as an organisation, I learned of its values and how they reflected in my values as a person; being kind, respectful and putting people & patietn before you. So for 22 months I worked in the labs, learning about different genetic illnesses.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, I was able to volunteer as a ‘ward buddy’ to help staff cope with the demanding working conditions pressed upon them in this strange new world we lived in for 18 months. Those hard working nurses and amazing healthcare assistants inspired me to give patients the best care, because that is what everyone has a right to and deserves.
It gave me a great deal to think about, like a real appreciation of how hard NHS staff work, it reinforced my belief in the NHS and its values, but above all else…
It made me want to do more, be more, I wanted to help patients and have an impact on their every day lives. So I applied to become a Clinical Scientist in the hope that I can offer what little I have to help someone.
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Genes are what make you, you! For example, have a look in the mirror, what colour hair and eyes do you have? Ever wondered what makes them that colour? Well its because of your genes!
Genes or your genetic code, is like a long list of instructions that tells your body what to look like! Ever wonder what makes some people taller or shorter than others?
Have a look around you and look at all the differences between everyone, its all because of genes! Your genes make you, you!
If you have any questions about this, feel free to asks away and I’ll do my best to explain!
Back to my Job! I am training to become a Clinical Scientist. So what is a clinical scientist?
Well its sort of like a normal scientist, except we don’t wear the big white lab coats anymore!
We work with people, in a team and as individuals, to understand how an illness or disease works in a patient. When I say we work with people, I mean we work with lots of professional people, like doctors, nurses, technicians and other scientists form different fields of expertise!
We look at data from the laboratory and write reports that tell the doctors and nurses what genes might be faulty!
My specialty is Cancer Genomics… (Genomics just means genetics, and genetics just means the study of genes) I wanted to study cancer in more detail because I had witnessed how devastating it can be as a disease, to the individual and their families.
So our job, in Cancer Genomics, is to help cancer patients, understand their disease and give them the best treatment options so that they can be healthy again and live a long, happy life.
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My Typical Day:
I like to get an early start on the day and head to the gym or go for a run first thing.
I start work between 8:30-9am, where I will set myself up for the day, reflecting on the previous day and check and respond to my emails.
Then I’ll begin writing up some of my experiences, compilling evidence of my training so far. On occaision I’ll do some laboratory and analysis of patient samples.
After lunch, I’ll do some assignment work, investigating lab processes and do some analysis on ‘dumby patients’.
I leave work around 5pm.
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A day in the life of a Cancer Scientist!
I try very hard to wake up at around 6am to get myself to the gym for around 6.30am! I usually attend a class, but sometimes, I’ll do my own thing!
After a quick breakfast, I get to work between 8.30 – 9am, where I’ll sit at my desk and prepare for the day ahead, I will look at my emails (I’ve got to check multiple accounts these days!).
Then I’ll check in with my training officer or a fellow trainee to discuss work related matters… (and have a quick chat).
The main part of my day is concerned with learning about different cancers. But wait, your probably wondering… what is a cancer? Well to understand that you need to consider what your body is made of…
You are made of lots of tiny (microscopic) cells, like building blocks that make a house, they cling together and give you the shape of a human person! Like a house, you only need so many building blocks to make the walls that support the main structure. Anymore than that and you might make the walls of the house too heavy and cause it to collapse!
A cancer, is a bit like that! The cell (or building block) grow uncontrollably and this can make you sick in lots of different ways. Its a complicated subject and there are lots of different types of cancer.
So for my job, it is important to understand how cancers start, what can we do to treat the patient and what advice can we give to the patient and their family.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I want to write and design a travelling puppet show that explains things about genetics to children and young adults around Bristol…
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Education:
- Lockerley Primary School (Hampshire)
- Test Valley School (Hampshire)
- Peter Symonds College (Hampshire)
- University of Surrey (Surrey)
- Univerisity of Debrecen (Hungary)
- University of Southampton (Hampshire)
- University of Manchester (Greater Manchester)
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Qualifications:
14 A-C grades at GCSE
4 A levels (B – Biology, B – Chemistry, B – Psychology, D – General Studies) and 1 AS level (C – English Literature)
BSc in Biomedical Science
MRes in Stem cell, development and regenerative medicine
MSc in Clinical Science (current)
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Work History:
January 2020 – October 2021 Healthcare Scientist Assistant Practitioner (Salisbury District Hospital, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory).
April 2019 – December 2019: Bar Staff at The Bear and Ragged Staff (Fuller, Smith and Turner), Romsey.
September 2018 – Present: Patient Simulator for SimComm, Hampshire.
February – September 2016: Bar Staff at The Britannia Pub (Shepherd Neame), Guildford.
Summer 2014 – Summer 2015: Gardener, Landscape Gardening Company (M.G Gardens).
Sept 2013-Jan 2014: Black Horse Pub, Hampshire.
July of 2010 and 2012: St Anne’s Hospital, Southampton, Work Shadowing.
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Current Job:
September 2021 – Present: Scientist Training Programme: Trainee Clinical Scientist in Oncology Genomics (Bristol NHS FT, Southmead).
- Studying part-time for a Clinical Scientist MSc (Cancer genomics) at University of Manchester.
- Current rotation in Genomics within the Bristol Genetics Laboratory.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Running, red-head, scientist
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wasn't sure!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No comment.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Stereophonics (currently)
What's your favourite food?
Pad Thai/ Singapore Noodles (hot!)
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1. Cure cancer 2. Win the lotery 3. Travel in space!
Tell us a joke.
A bear walks into a bar, the barman says 'hello sir, what would you like to drink?' To which the bear replies 'Good-evening I think I'll have a gin and... (a few moments go past) and finally he says '...tonic'. And the barman replies what's with the big PAWS?
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