Hayley Suen

What exactly does your work/job entail?
I work in the Institute of Haematology at RPA hospital, conducting research on patients with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. My research studies the function of certain T cell subsets in patients with myeloma with the aim of understanding more about these cells and exploiting them for therapeutic use.

My day to day activities include processing blood from myeloma patients, analysing the phenotype and function of T cells through a technique called flow cytometry. I also spend time at the computer, analysing results, writing up my work and reading journal articles.

What part of your work inspires you the most?
I find my work interesting because each day is different and promises new challenges. I enjoy being able to organise my own experiments and what I do each day. There is a lot of troubleshooting and interpreting data so that really stimulates the mind!

It is also really interesting to be working with primary patient samples and to know that you are part of a team working towards a possible better future for patients with cancer.

Do you find the skills you learnt during your degree useful and versatile?
My undergraduate subjects have been really useful as they have given me the knowledge and fundamentals for my scientific career. I find myself revisiting my notes and textbooks as my research career develops.

The biomedical component of the Forensic Biology degree definitely adds to the course's versatility. You get to experience many different disciplines like immunology, haematology, biochemistry and provides you with additional options for work or pursuing postgraduate studies.

What have been your ‘best’ professional achievements?
A professional achievement this year included receiving a travel grant to present my work at a national conference.

What did you personally gain from your studies?
Apart from learning all the basics and fundamentals from my undergraduate subjects, an important skill I gained from my studies was the ability to understand, interpret and present information.

I achieved this through different types of assessments including oral presentations, debates and also through presenting seminars as part of my honours degree. These opportunities helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking.

This skill is extremely important as a scientist as your work is always under peer review. You need to be able to communicate your work so that it can be understood not only by a scientific audience but also by the general community. I present my work on a daily basis to fellow researchers and to my supervisor, at lab meetings and also at conferences so I am thankful my studies have prepared me for that.

What was it like to study at UTS Science?
UTS Science is unique in that it has such a large practical component that provides you with a wealth of practical experience that employers really value.

I really enjoyed the practical classes at UTS. They have large laboratories and the lecturers and demonstrators are always willing to share their knowledge. It provided me with the chance to apply what I had learned in the lectures and really cemented the theory. Some of the techniques I learnt in practical classes gave me a head start on assays and experiments in my current work.

There are also great opportunities to network and get access to the industry. The lecturers are great for contacts and there are many chances for students to meet and greet industry professionals, some of which are UTS graduates who have gone onto successful careers.

All these aspects made it extremely worthwhile for me to study science at UTS. UTS’s campus is also conveniently located, close to transport, food and shops.