Sarah Bennett, MChem (Hons) PhD MRSC 
University of Warwick
Sarah is Head of Bio-Analytical Shared Resource Laboratories at the University of Warwick.
She started at the University of Warwick managing the development of a new UKRI funded £3.2m technology facility to support Synthetic Biology. For the first 5 years, she was the sole person running the facility and providing technical support.
Once funding came to an end, she led strategic discussions with senior leaders to ensure long-term sustainability of the facility, resulting in the establishment of the new Bio-Analytical Shared Resource Laboratories (BioSRLs).
Sarah now manages a team of 5 technical specialists, and ensures facilities meet research demand, horizon scanning for new technologies and sustainability of technical skills.
Her career involved 10 years in research, investigating the chemistry of deep-sea hydrothermal plumes, diving in the submersible Alvin and working at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The subsequent 10 years working as a technical specialist allowed her to drive strategic change. Throughout Sarah’s career, she pioneered innovative research and spearheaded the development of cutting-edge technology facilities at the University of Warwick.
She said, “The technical community are one of the most welcoming, friendliest groups of people I’ve had the pleasure to work with, all with a common goal to enable research. The Technician Commitment has transformed the technical career path, fostering visibility, recognition and career development – and I am incredibly proud to be a part of this sector changing initiative.”
She is interested in improving Research Culture and has led initiatives to increase equipment sharing and provide for a for research technical professionals to network and work together.
Sarah also sits on the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) People and Talent Strategic Advisory Panel for Research Technical Professionals and is involved with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded Technology Specialists Network: Research Technical Professional Opportunities, Knowledge and Skills (TSN ROKS) project and work within Midlands Innovation TALENT.
Her proudest moments are both from the last 18 months; from successfully leading a BBSRC ALERT bid, to completing the Executive Programme for Strategic Technical Leadership, delivered in partnership with University of Nottingham Business School.
She most enjoys the variety her role offers whilst having the overarching responsibilities for the technology facilities and contributing to departmental research strategy. She actively provides technical specialist support for a liquid handling robotics facility and enjoys learning about the research it enables, streamlining the workflow and programming the process onto the robot.
Sarah wants others to know “the research technical professional career path is a great alternative to the academic route, allowing you to stay closely involved in research while enjoying a greater variety of work.”
On hearing of her nomination, Sarah said, “Being recognised in my institution for my achievements over the 18 months is an award in itself. Having colleagues spend time to craft a strong nomination for a national award is truly humbling.
“Those who have supported this nomination, have also been the ones who have consistently supported and trusted me throughout my time at the University of Warwick, and they too deserve to share the credit for this recognition. I look forward to celebrating our achievements with colleagues at the awards ceremony in November.”
Sally Carter, BSc MSc 
Loughborough University
Sally is a Technical Officer in Sport Exercise and Health Science at Loughborough University. Her varied role involves setting up, calibrating, arranging repairs and servicing for the physiology equipment along with providing inductions for students and staff using the teaching and research laboratories.
She also helped to set up the ‘Research Buddy Scheme’ which allows undergraduate and master’s level students to volunteer and gain experience within research. In addition, she assists with teaching lab practicals on an ad-hoc basis, when cover is needed.
Sally completed a BSc in Sport Exercise and Health Science at Swansea University while working part time as a lifeguard. She then worked full time as a lifeguard for a year before moving to Loughborough to complete an Exercise Physiology MSc at Loughborough University.
After this, she worked as a Sport Lab Technician at Loughborough College for two and a half years before moving into her current role at Loughborough University. She also completed the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Supervised Experience (BASES SE) pathway and is now a BASES accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist.
Sally is proud to have successfully set up a volunteer scheme alongside another member of staff for students within the research labs (the ‘Research Buddy Scheme’). She claims, “it has taken a lot of work but has enabled us to provide students with experience of research projects prior to completing their own research project within many different domains and maintain a high level of participant care and safety within research testing sessions.”
Her favourite thing about her role is being able to fix things and the satisfaction of finding new solutions to problems. She enjoys interacting with students and researchers and being able to teach them how to use different pieces of equipment and helping them when problems arise.
Sally wants others to know the life of a technician is very varied and requires an ability to solve problems in many different circumstances.
“You also constantly learn new things and new ways to do things especially if you are working within a team of technicians,” she added.
She feels honoured and humbled to be nominated for Loughborough University amongst so many great technicians and would like to thank those who have supported her in her role and made her work as a technician so enjoyable!
Jodie Chatfield, BSc (Hons) MIScT CSci FHEA 
University of Nottingham
Jodie is Head of Technical Services for the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham. Her role is to manage, oversee and strategically lead the development and requirements for all aspects of technical services within the School, leading a team of around 100 technicians.
Her role involves communications across the school and wider, ensuring skill needs are met within research and teaching. She works within a senior management team to ensure technical resources are deployed effectively across all areas and sites, overseeing funding models and works to ensure all technical outputs and achievements are recognised.
She supports career development across her technical team by delivering meetings and events with colleagues from across the university and externally, sharing information and opportunities through communications, workshops and training.
Within the School and in partnership with Midlands Innovation (MI) TALENT, she helps to deliver, support and facilitate workshops to raise awareness and uptake of professional registration. Over the last few years this has been successful as a technical focussed course and is now run by MI TALENT and supports professional recognition via to Advance HE. Alongside gaining Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) status herself, Jodie actively champions and mentors colleagues at the University of Nottingham to achieve their status too.
She has also worked hard to increase support to colleagues who are neurodiverse, particularly those struggling with daily tasks and interactions as part of their roles. This work began from a journey with one autistic team member back in 2016.
In terms of learning what support, guidance and advice can be put in place, it has been a challenging journey, however, after many years of learning and working with an external professional, Jodie increased her knowledge and understanding of how and what additional measures can be put in place, recognising that for each individual, specific and bespoke support is key.
Her proactive approach to help has stretched beyond her School, to both technical and other staff within the wider university, and through workshops via MI TALENT where she has connected with others on a national level.
Her proudest moment is working with an external professional to increase awareness and neurodiversity support at the University of Nottingham. This involved communicating with and delivering workshops to senior teams in HR, gaining their engagement with the external professional was incredible and allowed the university to progress and provide tailored and bespoke support to colleagues that urgently need it.
Jodie began her technical career as a Trainee Technician almost 30 years ago. From an initial 2-year contract, she continued for over 20 years on short, fixed term contracts, moving across many roles to develop her skills, knowledge and experience.
During this time, her research-based roles enabled her to work across various disciplines and with some amazing people. Whilst maintaining a research role in 2016, she began a split role, dividing her time between a research team and managing a team of 18 support staff.
It was while doing this she realised she really enjoyed working with, supporting and guiding people in their roles and the challenges they faced. In 2020, Jodie secured her current role as Head of Technical Services in the School of Life Sciences.
Her favourite thing about her role is being able to help and support others in their careers and preparing them for opportunities they may want to take. She said, “It is extremely rewarding helping someone achieve a goal whether it be a qualification, a new role, gaining an award or communicating with someone senior.”
She wants others to know being a technician is very rewarding, constantly having opportunities to learn and develop alongside delivering support to others. Jodie claims, “As a technician myself, I have supported and trained many students over the years ranging from those on work experience, undergraduates and to those doing PhDs. Within a technical role we have many opportunities to meet amazing and inspiring people, from students, staff and collaborators, it is a hugely varied role.”
She feels it is amazing to have been nominated at a national level. Having worked with many supportive and talented colleagues across many teams has enabled her to achieve many goals. “I would like to thank each and every one of them.”
Mark Dabee Saltmarsh, BA(Hons) PGCE MIScT 
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Mark is a Technician Demonstrator at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy. His principal role is to support the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) Design and Technology, Art and Design and Computer Science programmes in the School.
He supports four other programmes alongside offering trainings, health and safety support and collaborates with other schools, most notably Cardiff School of Art and Design and Cardiff School of Sport and Health Science.
He spent much of his first degree Multimedia Product Design working part time in coffee shops around Cardiff and upon graduation spent time looking at ways to get into creative industries without needing to move to London as he was supporting his parents as a CODA (child of deaf adults).
Mark worked a very varied career in creative industries, first as a freelance product designer for Nokia and Motorola, then a Network Design Technician in a utility construction company and then studied to become a teacher and worked as a Design and Technology teacher for several years before becoming a technician in secondary education, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
He’s been extremely fortunate to have been given countless opportunities within his role, but said, “one of the best things to have happened in my time has been the development of the Technician Commitment and the UK Institute for Technical Skills and strategy (UK ITSS).
As Chair of the Technician Commitment group within my institution, my team and I have been busy supporting and promoting technical roles and highlighting the importance that technical staff play in higher education in Cardiff Metropolitan University.”
This has allowed his team to successfully complete one action plan while developing and fulfilling the second plan to benefit the technical community. This, in turn, led to his inclusion as the Wales representative on the UK ITSS Technical Council. Not forgetting to mention the launch of the first All Wales Technical Conference in 2025 to foster collaboration from all the universities in Wales and celebrate technical skills.
His favourite thing about his role is being able to witness the development of technology within education, from laser cutters to 3D printers to the Greenpower project (where primary schools build electric cars), providing many opportunities and challenges to provide support for both students and educators alike.
The development of the Creative Exhibition, a highly regarded annual event showcasing the work of secondary school students, is a highlight of his year and one he is proud to have been involved in since its inception.
He wants others to know technicians are the “unsung heroes”, working behind the scenes to ensure that learning environments are operational, equipment is maintained, and that students and academics can carry out their work in a safe, well-supported environment. He said:, “For technicians, the opportunities that are being created and supported has only just begun. The Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership, knowledge exchange placement and physics apprenticeship schemes are just some of the many fantastic options for technical staff today.”
Mark was shocked and tremendously honoured to be nominated. He said, “I had to get other people to read the email just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things! I am incredibly happy and proud to be considered and to be nominated is truly humbling.”
Ashley Grimmer, BSc 
University of Cambridge
Ashley is a Lead Research Technician on the Hyperpolariser Project at the University of Cambridge. His main responsibility is to manufacture non-radioactive tracers (kits) in a Grade A facility within Addenbrookes Hospital.
These kits are used to produce a signal in numerous MRI cancer studies with the goal of better detection and improved treatment response. Prior to injection, the kits are loaded in a GE Spinlab that polarises the sample, increasing the sensitivity of the MRI scan and allowing us to see images at a cellular level.
Ashley is responsible for running the Spinlab on scan days and its operational maintenance. Other duties include quality control and batch release, staff training and contributions to academic papers/presentations.
Ashley has been a technician ever since leaving university and starting his first job in an environmental chemistry laboratory (almost 20 years ago). This led to his job with the University of Cambridge assisting in many types of medical research.
A move to New Zealand in 2012 resulted in a job at the University of Auckland again working as a technician in medical research. He moved back home in 2017 to take a job with his current employer in the Department of Radiology at the University of Cambridge.
He confessed to knowing very little about MRI imaging prior to taking the role but finds it very fulfilling to now be a crucial member of a successful team carrying out pioneering research in the field.
Ashley feels fortunate to work in a department of people who are not only great professionals but also friendly, encouraging and appreciative of all members of the team. He said: “The environment they create is without doubt the best thing about my role.”
His proudest moment was when he manufactured the doses for the first in human Fumarate injection. This hyperpolarised molecule has the potential to detect dying cancer cells and could lead to more effective treatment.
He wants others to know that being a technician can sometimes be challenging, and you can feel underappreciated and sometimes it is difficult to see or be a part of final results. But in his experience, this is changing for the better.
Now, he said: “It is possible to feel involved in all aspects of a project as a technician and be recognised as a crucial member of a team.”
Ashley says he was a little embarrassed to discover he was nominated as Outstanding Technician of the Year but said, “it’s great for the department and helps to highlight the work we do.”
Jenna Lowe, BSc 
University of Liverpool
Jenna is a Laboratory Sustainability Officer at University of Liverpool. She manages the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) at the University of Liverpool, overseeing its implementation across 150+ laboratories and workshops within the university's three faculties.
Her role involves coordinating the roll-out of the LEAF framework, working closely with lab members, heads of departments, and heads of operations. She provides guidance from initial sign-up through to final submission, ensuring participants have the necessary information and are meeting the required criteria. After submission, she conducts audits to verify that all criteria have been met.
Jenna has also developed resources to help labs reduce their use of consumables, energy, and water, and how to manage chemicals more sustainably. She is the primary point of contact for labs across the university seeking advice on sustainable practices or product recommendations.
In addition, she works with the central sustainability team, offering expertise on laboratory operations to support sustainability initiatives. Together, they drive change to help labs improve their sustainability. She regularly reports on LEAF progress to the faculties and the central sustainability team.
After graduating from university, she worked in a hospital lab for two years, followed by another two years in a school lab. In 2013, Jenna joined the University of Liverpool as a core technician and was in this role up until 2023 when she began a two-year secondment as a Laboratory Sustainability Officer.
She first became involved with LEAF during the university pilot in 2021. She signed up her lab and earned the bronze award. Following the success of the pilot, the university adopted LEAF as the sustainability standard for all labs.
In 2022, she started assisting with the LEAF roll-out on a part-time basis alongside her technical role. When additional resources were needed, a two-year full-time secondment was created. She applied, was selected, and is now halfway through the secondment. She’s proud of all she has accomplished so far and excited for what’s to come in the next year.
One of her favourite aspects of her role is working with all lab members, from technicians, students, post-docs, and academics—and learning about the incredible work happening across campus. Her proudest moment in her current role was being shortlisted for the sustainability on campus award at the university’s most recent staff awards.
She would like others to know: “I’ve always been proud to be a technician, and there are many opportunities for technicians to grow and develop their careers, both at the bench and beyond. I encourage others to explore these possibilities.”
Jenna feels honoured to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award alongside so many talented technicians from across the sector and would like to thank “all of my colleagues who have supported me every step of the way from supporting my application for this secondment to supporting me as I stepped away from the bench and into this new role.”
James McStravick, BSc MSc PGCert FHEA 
Manchester Metropolitan University (now the University of Huddersfield)
Jim is a Senior Lecturer Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Huddersfield. He is nominated for his work as a Technical Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Research Radiographer) at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His current role entails establishing a new Diagnostic Radiography course to commence September 2025 and preparing and reviewing course specification documents for validation by the university, Health and Care Professions Council, and Society and College of Radiographers.
He also liaises with external stakeholders, identifies imaging equipment required for course delivery, compiles business cases, and partakes in marketing the course from open days, to published material content and design.
He first came to study radiography at the age of 30 after an extended low point in his life. His autistic differences caused him not to complete his first attempt at an MSc and led to several years out of employment.
Coming back to university as a mature student on a vocational course helped him rebuild his life. With determination and focus, Jim achieved top student in his cohort and went on to dedicate himself to paediatric radiography.
Although his undiagnosed condition continued to present difficulties, Jim spent 15 years in frontline clinical imaging, specialising in magnetic resonance imaging. He built on this, first being awarded MSc Neuroimaging from Bangor University and then being seconded by the NIHR to acquire a post-graduate certificate in Clinical Research.
Following his autism diagnosis, Jim recognised that hospital work likely exacerbated his stresses, so he moved into research imaging. Whilst in clinical practice, he could impact the lives of a few thousand patients a year; by contributing to medical research, he could potentially impact tens of thousands.
Initially, he spent a few years at the Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, before moving to Manchester Metropolitan University. As part of its establishment, the Institute of Sport MMU had invested in a powerful 3T scanner and additional specialist equipment to allow advanced techniques, such functional MRI and a range of x-nuclear spectroscopy. It was key that this scanner, although sited in the Institute and used by their interdisciplinary researchers, was a facility for the whole university.
Therefore, as well as overseeing the safe use of this equipment to produce high- quality research data, Jim also committed himself to outreach to both departments across campus and to regional partners who could collaborate to the benefit of research across the Greater Manchester region.
After establishing the scanner to become a research facility in its own right and attracting a range of projects and substantial external grant awards, he decided it was time to move on after three years.
Within the last few months, Jim has taken up a position of prospective course leader at University of Huddersfield to help set up and grow a new Diagnostic Radiography undergraduate course.
Here, he can combine the teaching and technical skills honed at Manchester Metropolitan University and University College London with his extensive clinical experience to train the next generation of diagnostic radiographers, each of whom can go on to benefit thousands of patients every year for many years to come.
Jim is most proud of achieving the position of course leader and being able “to teach a profession I have been part of for 20 years. All despite the difficulties my autism provides.”
His favourite thing about his role, both now as a lecturer and before at Manchester Metropolitan University as a technical specialist, is the opportunity to teach. “To find the best way to pass on knowledge and to see new understanding dawn in my learners.”
About the technical profession, Jim wants others to understand the broad base of specialist knowledge technicians have and the contribution they make to teaching.
On his nomination, he is pleased to be recognised despite his neurological differences from the typical and feels he can succeed and provide inspiration to others with similar conditions.
Mamta Sharma, MSc MBBS MD 
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Mamta is a Senior Technical Specialist in the Garnett team at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, focusing on translational cancer genomics. Her responsibilities include constructing large scale clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) Libraries for high-throughput screening.
She joined the Institute in 2006 after having completed an MSc in Cell and Tissue Engineering and applied 3D scaffolds to culture neuronal cells. Prior to this, she practised medicine following her MBBS and MD (Physiology) degrees.
Since 2006, she has gained extensive experience in advanced gene editing techniques. With her background, she has been able to make significant contributions to numerous highly collaborative projects in the field, including the European Conditional Mouse Mutagenesis Program Knockout Mouse Project (EUCOMM/KOMP), the Encyclopaedia of RNA Elements (ENCORE), Saturation Genome Editing and PlasmoGem projects.
As a specialist in molecular biology, she develops new molecular technologies, troubleshoots experiments, and mentors scientists at all stages of their career. Coming from a medical background and after years of practicing medicine, she was curious to understand what happens at both molecular and cellular level of diseases.
This led her to pursue for a Masters in Cell and Tissue Engineering. She thrives in a team setting where she can contribute to impactful work, learn new skills, and develop novel technologies to understand biological mechanism.
Mamta’s proudest moment whilst in her current role was developing the largest CRISPR library at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
She said: “This is an important milestone for me as this library is being used to systemically study many genes involved in disease by multiple collaborators. I had to overcome many technical hurdles to make this achievable.
“Given the scale of the project, I had to develop new protocols, test various reagents from different sources, and optimise the protocols for our experiments.”
Mamta has received much positive feedback on the quality of the library and is proud to have contributed to research that would otherwise deemed as not feasible.
Her favourite aspect about her role is innovating new methods and molecular tools, collaborations with scientists, and inspiring new generations of scientists. Additionally, she enjoys meeting new scientists and getting the opportunity to learn from them and exchange ideas and knowledge.
She wants others to know that being a technician is more than just doing technical work. “Technicians is a broad term and encompass various roles often requiring years of hands-on experience.
“For example, technicians are involved in technology development, contributing new scientific ideas, and collaborating with a wide community of scientists.
“Additionally, technicians are also involved with training and learning. There are many opportunities to develop professionally as a technician.”
Mamta is thrilled, excited, and honoured to be nominated for Outstanding Technician of the Year. She said: “I am the first person from my Institute to be nominated for this award, which means a great deal to me as I am proud to be recognised for all the work I have contributed.
“I am also grateful for all the support I have received from my line manager and the Institute for the opportunities and support they have given me. Being shortlisted as a nominee also highlights the work that the Institute does to support technicians and the range of genomics research being done here.”
