Profile
Jonathan Tugwood
My CV
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Education:
Banbury School, Oxfordshire
Birmingham University (BSc)
Manchester University (PhD)
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Qualifications:
10 O levels
3 A Levels (Maths, Chemistry, Biology)
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences, Upper Second Class
PhD Molecular Virology
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Work History:
I’ve had some interesting jobs prior to going to university, for example working in a cardboard factory, and for a geological survey company!
After university I was lucky enough to get a position working in a lab at Columbia University, New York. I worked on fruit fly genetics!
After returning to the UK I was a postman for a while(!), and then I got a job with ICI working as a scientist. This was loosely connected to cancer research, I was studying the safety of drugs before they were able to be used in the clinical. I stayed with ICI when they became Zeneca, and finally AstraZeneca.
Ten years ago I left AstraZeneca to work where I am now, at CRUK Manchester Institute Cancer Biomarker Centre. My working with the pharmaceutical company really helped me understand the drug development process, very valuable in the job I currently do.
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About Me:
I live with my partner and young son near Knutsford in Cheshire. I work for the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, our Cancer Biomarker Centre works on cancer clinical trials. I play golf when time allows, and I try to stay fit with regular Joe Wicks home workouts!
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Our lab at CRUK MI Cancer Biomarker Centre analyses samples from cancer clinical trial patients, to check how their disease is doing and to see if they are responding to treatment. My job is to work with the organisations that run the clinical trials, including universities, NHS Trusts, and pharmaceutical companies.
For each clinical trial, as I know what tests our lab can perform, I set up contracts between our lab and the clinical trial organiser to make sure everyone knows what work is to be done, and what it will cost. Once this is agreed, I then work with our lab teams to get everything ready to analyse the first samples when they arrive. Throughout the trial I keep in touch with the organisers to let them know how things are going, to report results, and to make sure CRUK gets paid.
Although I don’t work in the lab to do experiments any more, I have done alot of this throughout my career and it’s important I have a good understanding of the science behind what we do. This helps me advise clinical trial organisers on what can and can’t be done with the valuable samples we get from the cancer patients.
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My Typical Day:
I start work in the office, or sometimes from home, around 8.30. I keep a “To Do” list (Mr Organised!!) on my computer, and I first check which urgent tasks need working, on, and whether any overnight e-mails require urgent responses. I will attend arranged meetings and record any work for me on my list. Last thing is to update my list ready for tomorrow. I finish work around 5pm most days.
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My day starts early with a 25 minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout around 7am. I’m used to the routine now, and during the session I find myself thinking about the working day ahead, and what I need to get sorted urgently!
Work starts (after a shower!) at around 8.30. I try to organise my workload into high and lower priority tasks, and keep a “To Do” list. Some tasks are relatively quick, for example replying to an e-mail from a doctor or university staff member. Some are longer, for example writing a contract for a new piece of work our lab will do on a new clinical trial. For all things, I try to make sure important things are tackled first, particularly if someone is waiting for me to reply. My To Do list has a “traffic Light” system, with red for urgent things for me to do, amber for lees urgent, and green for when I’ve done my bit and am waiting for someone else.
I try not to sit at a desk all day, I will walk around our lab and talk to the scientists and the other staff. I always prefer conversation to e-mail, ideally face-to-face, or over the phone or webcam if that’s not possible.
Having said that, I’ve got into a bad habit of having lunch at my desk! At least once a week I’ll have a lunch time walk, ideally with people from my work team.
Work finishes around 5pm most days, I try to leave things organised for the next day so I can get started quickly without wasting time.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Glass-Half-Full Cancer Researcher
What did you want to be after you left school?
An accountant for a while, but I changed my mind!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Nope, never!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I'm not a big music fan, but I like stuff from the 80s
What's your favourite food?
Curry
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Remain healthy, financially secure, and to be less boring!
Tell us a joke.
What's brown and sticky? A stick!
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