Jessica Bates

I am a final year PhD student at Nottingham Trent University researching the effect of ageing on the blood-brain barrier. This incorporates in vivo studies with male and female mice up to the age of 22 months, whereby I have completed I.V., I.P, S.C routes of administration as well as surgical anaesthesia monitoring. I have also worked as a research technician within academia for 2 years working with in vitro and in vivo research streams and a 3 month placement in industry.

I am passionate about science and wish to continue in my career in this field.

Nottingham Trent University: Laboratory demonstrator (Bioscience department), 2021-present

• Assist in demonstrating and teaching students at undergraduate and master’s level in multiple disciplines.
• Planned and supervised undergraduate and Masters’ level research projects (2022-2024)

University of Nottingham: Research Technician (Breast Cancer Pathology Research Group), 2019-2020

• Assisted with the collection of tissue blocks and slides and maintained accurate data storage records in

compliance with the human tissue act (HTA).

• Sectioned FFPE and Tissue MicroArray tissue blocks whilst maintaining accurate records of tissue use.
• Performed immunohistochemistry and routine H&E including validation and quality control.
• Produced and adhered to SOP, CoSHH and Risk Assessment documents
• Produced and implemented project workflow plans for various aspects of project
• Assisted PhD students in laboratory techniques, theoretical knowledge and ordering of consumables

University of Sheffield: Trainee Research Technician, (Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, 2016-2017

• Worked with a vast range of techniques such as Tissue Culture of human cells, Histopathology, Histology, Cell culture, Microarrays, DNA extraction from blood, drug discovery panels
• Informally demonstrated and troubleshoot laboratory techniques to MSc and work experience students
• A part of a team with responsibilities affecting projects in the entire department
• Beginner and Intermediate immunohistochemistry courses 

University of Sheffield: Auditor of Tissue, October 2018-March 2019

• Audited both FFPE and frozen tissue at the Sheffield Tissue Brain Bank 
• Collated data into an online database and amending any abnormalities in accordance with HTA

PhD project: Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham (September 2020-)

• ‘The Role of the Neurovascular Unit in Maintaining Normal Blood-Brain Barrier in ageing’
• Techniques applied: Immunohistochemistry, Confocal and thunder microscopy, lipid nanoparticle production, 
• In vivo animal work: Rodent animal licence (PIL A/B/C obtained June 2021), Behavioural studies, dosing (I.V. and I.P), cardiac perfusion, anaesthesia monitoring of MCAo surgical studies, cardiac perfusion, in vivo imaging including IVIS and MRI 
• Liposome characterisation: TEM, DLS, fluorescence intensity
• Analysis software: GraphPad Prism, Image J

MSc Translational Neuropathology, University of Sheffield, 2019 (Distinction)

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, Sheffield Hallam University, 2014-2019 (1st Class)