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e x p e r i e n c e
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competitions
stakeholder and project management
accountant
web design
I have partaken in several academic competitions before, and in team based ones such as First LEGO Robotics and the UK’s EES have achieved very high results (winning regionals and finalists at nationals). I love sinking my teeth into a challenge and want to see some kind of reward at the end (other than of course the invaluable self-growth). I understand the importance of matching the criteria for judging as a priority, then additional factors on top being what can push our work over the edge. The engineering life cycle is also already familiar to me, so following iGEM's desired "Design-Build-Test-Learn" approach will be in line with this.
I'm familiar with stakeholder management and the importance of keeping backers updated on key milestones in a project. Particularly in a project like this where we want to get external funding, I believe experience in this area is a useful skill. I've run several projects at my prior workplace from concept to implementation, and am familiar managing a team to keep to deadlines. A Gantt chart hates to see me coming!
From my previous life I do bring years of financial experience and am an ACA chartered accountant. The books would be in very safe hands! I also studied for all my accountancy exams while working full time, so am more than familiar with time-management between multiple demanding ongoing tasks at once. From this, I believe I would be able to manage iGEM on top of the courseload at MSP (I've already had the burnout failures to learn from!).
I want to dust off old html/css skills to build a custom website for our project that showcases our concept the best, while being a wealthy depository for all the information. Aesthetics are the final hurdle that can be fine tuned over time, a functioning site that has all the material required is the starting point that can then only improve. If we record everything from the start where it will eventually be used, the time saved during crunch pays dividends.
m y . p o s s i b l e . r o l e s
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  • . . . I've produced educational content and given walkthroughs frequently at my prior workplace. I enjoy presenting and engaging with an audience to help sell our idea as well as gather new insights from an audience.


  • . . . Data-recording and website creation I am eager to get involved with, I had fun making this website and want to make sure we have a clear pitch and narrative to our project from the start.


  • . . . Oversight and project management I actually find fun! Keeping in contact with everyone on their individual roles and responsibilities and seeing how items need to move to be kept on track is an entertaining, if sometimes stressful, puzzle.


  • . . . Budgeting and managing the books along with funding goals - this is a comfortable area for me given my background in Finance.


  • . . . I am interested in the wet labs, but given I am a first year with minimal lab experience this would not be my main area of focus. I feel similarly for the research component, I definitely would want to be involved but aware that others will likely be more experienced.