Nadia Cross, Core Facilities Operations Specialist
In her role as Core Facilities Operations Specialist, Nadia helps ensure the smooth running of a diverse range of labs and scientific technologies that are relied on every day by researchers within and outside of the CI.
Nadia’s journey to her current role at the CI has taken her to lots of interesting places, from the classroom to the lab. Nowadays she works part-time in a more administrative role, supporting scientists who are working in or using the CI’s Core Facilities: mini departments within the building that each offer a specialised service for internal or external use. She is also working on a data apprenticeship, studying during her work hours and learning new skills to apply to her work.
Watch her episode of Behind the Lab Coat below and then check out the follow-up interview questions for more details on her experience of life at the CI at juggling work, life and learning.
You work to support a lot of scientific teams but does everyone you work with have a science background?
“There are lots of people within our Core Facilities who do have a science background, but not everyone. Definitely colleagues in roles that have an admin lean or a strategic lean don’t necessarily have a science background. They might have done science at school or university but have not necessarily gone down the research career.”
Does it give you an advantage at the CI if you do?
“No, I don’t think so. I think there’s things that you can pick up and I also think it’s a sign of good science if you are able to explain things in a lay person’s way. There’s lots of day-to-day tasks and duties which don’t require you knowing what this gene does or what that protein does inside the body. You can still do that job without that.”
Your work supports all our Cores so you have experience of how they all differ. Does this mean you have a favourite?
“I don’t think I have a favourite Core Facility. I think for me, the big thing about the job is the people. It’s always been like that throughout my career. For me, I don’t think a particular technology makes one Core more special than the others.”
In your interview, you took us through all the varied roles you’ve had in your career so far. How is the CI different to other places where you have worked?
“The CI is different to other places I’ve worked because it’s really collaborative. I’ve found I’ve had so many meetings here where we’ve had lots of discussion. People feel really able to give their opinion and thoughts and they listen to. And it’s welcomed and it feels really, it feels like a really nice sharing environment.”
You’re also doing an apprenticeship alongside your work. How did that come about?
“As part of the University of Cambridge, we get lots of opportunities and one of those, that was highlighted last year was, the ability to take on apprenticeship. So that’s what I have, specifically, an apprenticeship in data insights for business decisions. And that’s been really interesting. I think I’ve realized just how much data we accumulate and we don’t necessarily think of as data.”
What has it been like juggling your job at the CI with learning?
“I didn’t think I would do an apprenticeship at my stage of career. It was perhaps that the opportunity came up and I thought – just go for it, give it a go and see what happens! I think I think I’ve learned quite a lot of skills from it. I think it’s been a really beneficial experience. It’s definitely challenging juggling an apprenticeship with my day-to-day job. I work part time anyway, so, time is always a significant challenge for me. But I think having really supportive management, allowing you time to, you know, prioritize study is really helpful.”
