Hong Lin's story

I joined Reading in September 1999, as a research technician in the neuroscience research group. Then I took up a permanent position, to manage a lab in 2005. This was extended to a floor coordinator role when we moved to the new Hopkins building in 2008. In this role I am responsible for the day to day running of a research floor that is shared by biologists and pharmacologists. 

As well as supporting research, I give lab inductions to staff and students before they start on their research projects, and I am the first point of contact when problems arise with the laboratory facilities or equipment, and also coordinate the annual services of the building and research facilities with our Technical Services Operations team and external engineers. Whilst managing the lab, I am still part of the research team(s) carrying out research activities, performing projects for collaborators; finishing off experiments for publications and doing some preliminary studies for grant applications.

Two high profile projects recently included a Llama immunisation project and development of a cannabis derived medicine that is now used as an anti-epileptic drug. It was a great surprise, to be nominated by Karen, our Director of Technical Services, to the 2022 THE award ‘Outstanding Technician of the Year’. I was shortlisted, invited to the ceremony in London and went on to win the award in the end! I never imagined or expected this to happen. I feel so happy that my work has been recognised.

I always enjoy working with colleagues in Technical service as well as the academic staff. We work as a team, and support each other.