Laboratory news & BioScience March 2017

NEW ZEALAND LABORATORY NEWS | NEW ZEALAND BIOSCIENCE
Ex-science teacher pursues lab
technician career
Noeleen McArdle used to be a
science teacher, but after moving
to New Zealand from Ireland
she decided she wanted a more
hands-on science role. She
enrolled in the Graduate Diploma
in Laboratory Technology at Ara
Institute of Canterbury to get the
applied science skills she needed
for her new career.
“I was only one year of study and it had
heard about the course and it sounded
like it was the best-suited for me. It
a big workplace element to it that would get
me into a real lab,” she says.
Noeleen had been working as a hospital
aide since arriving in New Zealand and was
nervous about returning to study. She says
that the support she received at Ara made
her quickly realise she had made the right
decision.
“The tutors were great. They were really
supportive and the small class sizes mean
that they really know who you all are. I cannot
praise them highly enough.”
The first semester of the qualification
covered essential lab skills and during the
second semester, Noeleen spent much of
her study time on work placement with Canterbury
Southern Community Laboratories.
She says that the strong focus on practical
study and workplace experience made her
feel confident about entering a job when she
finished.
“I loved being in the lab and the course
gave you an idea of what’s expected when
you go out and work in the industry.”
Noeleen also enjoyed the research project
component of the diploma, where she got to
investigate and analyse the levels of Lactobacillus
bacteria in probiotic yogurt.
“It’s good to experience a research project
from start to finish because there is so much
science research going on that I could be involved
with through a future lab role.”
Noeleen’s career aim is to work in microbiology
labs because of the variety in this area
of work.
“It's fascinating. There are micro-organisms
all around us, in everything, and the
impact they can have on our lives is massive.”
Ara has strong industry connections and
Noeleen was able to quickly secure a job at
Hill Laboratories when she finished. Her role
involves testing food samples to make sure
they are safe for consumption.
ISSUE 117 | MARCH 2017
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