Beth McMillan is currently studying mechanistic biology at Sheffield University, following her BSc (Hons) in biochemistry. She has a particular interest in biological modelling and structural biology. She is also an avid classical musician and a big geek, with Linux command line experience and a passion for programming. Her interests include knitting, web design and recreational mathematics.

In her university holidays, she works as a receptionist but when she grows up, she wants to be a research scientist.

I'm currently studying a Masters course in Mechanistic Biology at the University of Sheffield. This course covers the quantitative aspects of molecular biology, with modules in mathematics, phyical biology, nanochemistry, biological modelling and programming in Python. The practical side of the course has involved atomic force microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in biochemistry from the University of Sheffield in 2011, a course which also covered microbiology, genetics and systems biology. For my final year project, I expressed, purified and co-crystallised an enzyme with its inhibitors, and performed X-ray trials in order to determine its structure.

Key skills

• Expression and purification of proteins
• Hanging drop crystallisation
• Spectroscopy, inclduing circular dichroism, visible, UV and fluorecence.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly
• Excellent organisational skills
• Self motivation
• Extremely clear writing style
• Enthusiasm for public speaking
• Data processing and programming using Python

Vacation Student Research Experience

University of Oxford

June - July 2011. Modifying several CellML models of cardiac purkinje cells, adding a stretch activated current parameter. Finding and reviewing scientific literature, familiarising myself with the XML-based language and Cellular Open Resource, and collecting data, including writing a peak detection macro in OpenOffice Calc Basic. I also had the opportunity to observe voltage-sensitive dye experiments on the whole heart, single purkinje cells and the intact ventricular wall, and to attend the Physiology 2011 conference.

University of Sheffield

June - July 2010. Investigating the effects of zinc on the formation of Stefin B amyloid fibrils. This work included: plasmid preparation/harvesting; creation of competent E. coli cells; transformation; cell growth and harvesting; protein purification including ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography and HPLC; SDS-PAGE; UV, visible and fluorescence spectroscopy; circular dichroism; electron microscopy; data handling using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic Scripting; and critical analysis of scientific literature. This project culminated in a written report, a podcast and two presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Skills

• Unix command line experience
• Web design and development using XHTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript.
• Python programming, with a particular focus on bionformatics applications
• Proficiency with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems.
• Microsoft Visual Basic, Reflection Basic and Commodore 64 Basic.
• Diagnosing and solving hardware and software problems.

BitFixIt Café

This community group meets at the weekend to solve computers problems for people in the Burngreave area of Sheffield. We repair hardware problems, remove viruses and malware, and install operating systems and open source software, as well as sharing skills and maintaining a free wi-fi network. I also designed our website.

Programming

My Masters course includes a module on Python programming for biological applications. These have included calculating the pI of a protein, using programmatic web acces to NCBI databases to collate sequence information with keyword searches.

I enjoy programming in my spare time, and have created some personal projects in Python and C, including an implementation of the Sieve of Erastothenes , which is a method for finding prime numbers.

PAS, a program I used in the NHS as an admissions co-ordinator, can be extended using a scripting language similar in syntax to Microsoft Visual Basic. This first script simplifies patient preadmission, basically reducing it to a short bit of data entry rather than a long complex process. Here is the source code. The second makes it easier to revise the status of an appointment order (e.g. from a ward on discharge) by automatically checking all patient episodes. Source code.

Key skills

• Typing speed of 80 WPM
• Excellent spelling, grammar and punctuation
• High-level use of word processing, spreadsheet and desktop publishing applications
• Copy and audio typing
• Professional, friendly phone manner
• Use of Microsoft Visual Basic Script and other scripting languages for automating tasks
• Time/diary management and organisational skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Experience working with confidential information

Relevant experience

Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead - Administrative Bank Staff

• September 2009 - Present (holidays only): Admissions and Appointments team member. Making courtesy calls, using a dictation pedal to transcribe letters and receptionist duties.
• April 2009 - September 2009: Admissions Co-ordinator. Liasing with staff and patients, using PAS, Orsos and PatientCentre to preadmit patients for surgery and managing waiting lists. In this role I wrote several Reflection Basic scripts to improve the efficiency of PAS.
• January – March 2009 (part time): PA to the Corporate Affairs and Communications team. Producing posters, organising meetings, writing content for the hospital's website and writing social media content.

  Jeremy Peters said: "Beth worked as an assistant in Queen Victoria Hospital's Corporate Affairs Team, from January to March 2009, partly covering for a PA vacancy. I managed most of Beth's work. In addition to undertaking routine tasks for this very busy department, such as arranging meetings, distributing information internally, and collating mailshots, Beth immediately showed the right attitude and ability to undertake much more advanced work. Read more »

  Proving to be exceptionally articulate, creative and confident in her use of language, together with a natural ability with digital / information technology, Beth was quickly able to perform many corporate communications tasks. For example, she designed and drafted copy for materials such as complex information posters and social media content, and after basic training she was able to use a difficult content management system to fully edit a great deal of QVH's website. Beth's excellent interpersonal skills were vital in handling the many calls and visitors the department receives every day, representing the hospital in a responsive, professional and corporate way.

  But most of all, Beth's attitude to work is exemplary - quickly performing tasks so that she could move onto the next (despite being paid by the hour and only being employed when there was work to do), using initiative in predicting and carrying out requirements, and being openly helpful and needing little supervision. She rarely needed anything explaining or requesting a second time. All of this aided the productivity of the other members of the team.

  I would have no hesitation in recommending Beth in a role that required intelligence, excellence in language and communications skills, a spot-on attitude, and a high level of IT skill." « Hide

• December 2008 - April 2009 (part time): Ward Clerk. Filing, photocopying and helping the busy Burns ward run smoothly.
• June - September 2008: Appointments Team Member. Arranging appointments by phone, using PAS and performing receptionist duties.

Key skills

• Grade 8 flute
• Grade 7 singing
• Piccolo (and extremely willing to play it)
• Extensive orchestral, concert band and ensemble experience
• Flexible soprano-alto voice
• Always brings a pencil

Grade 8 flautist (plus piccolo).

I've played with the Sheffield University Symphony and Wind Orchestras, the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra, the Crawley Area Youth Orchestra and Concert Band and the Sackville School Orchestra and Concert Band, in many instances as principal flute.

I've also been lucky enough to accompany the Sheffield University Wind Orchestra on tour to Boppard Am Rhein, Germany in 2010, and with the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra to Carinthia, Austria in 2008.

Grade 7 singer

I have many years of singing both alto and soprano parts in several choirs, including the Sheffield University Chamber Choir, Crawley Area Girls', Youth and Chamber Choirs, Sackville Community Choir and Sackville School Chorale. As well as formal concerts and solo performances, I also performed in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's musical Trial By Jury in 2009.

I enjoy recreational mathematics - especially the books of Martin Gardner. I love to read, and I periodically write 17-syllable reviews of books. I love blogs (and blogging), and webcomics (and webcomicking ). In my spare time, I relax by knitting, sewing and cooking. I love learning new techniques, and organising craft swaps on places like Craftster.