Profile

I work at the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory which is based at the British Geological Survey in a village just outside Nottingham.  We act as a scientific service for UK university researchers and also for commercial work. So lots of different people come to the lab to have their precious samples analysed.  The lab works on lots of different geological questions, like ‘How old is the Earth?’ but my specialism is archaeology. I use an instrument called a mass spectrometer which measures tiny differences in elements like carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Mass spectrometers measure isotopes, which are slightly different variations of elements.  Carbon for example has isotopes 12, 13 and 14 and these isotopes behave differently. The numbers relate to the isotope’s mass and the lighter ones (e.g. 12) react more quickly than the heavier ones (e.g. 13).  We use this to look at lots of different things in nature and in ancient bones and teeth to tell us about past lives.  Its a bit like silent witness for ancient bodies!

After dropping my kids off I rush into work and normally the first thing I do is check the mass spectrometer has worked OK overnight. We run the machines overnight as they take 8-10 hours to analyse a whole batch of samples. I then look through the results on my computer, stop for coffee and cake with my colleagues (there is always lots of cake!) and set up the mass spectrometer for the next run. After lunch I might chat with visitors about their work and how things are progressing, or check on samples being prepared in the lab, before dashing off to meet the school bus. I work part-time as I have 2 small children to take care of too!