Career: Professional
Using my academic background in chemistry and computing, I got a computer programming job at a company called Synopsys Scientific Systems Ltd, based in Leeds, working on the Accord SDK, a cheminformatics toolkit. The company merged with other companies in the scientific software development field to become Accelrys, and moved to Cambridge. I relocated with the company, continuing to work primarily on the SDK, until 2004.
Other posts I have held include lab technician, as part of my first degree, waitress, researcher at the University of Essex and clerical/general marker at Cambridge Assessment (formerly UCLES) to mark some of the thousands of ESOL exams taken by students all over the world. The last two positions were temporary contracts, and I am regularly invited back to mark ESOL exams.
