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Marian Denson

@mariandenson

Experienced Research Infrastructure Technician skilled in flow cytometry, lab compliance, and researcher-focused troubleshooting.

United Kingdom

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a research-support role where I can own lab infrastructure—especially flow cytometry and sample management—while strengthening documentation, safety, and Research Governance. I want to collaborate with researchers and improve throughput through practical troubleshooting.

I’m a Research Infrastructure Technician with deep experience supporting biomedical research centers, spanning academic teaching labs and clinical trials work. I quickly grasp new concepts and translate researcher requirements into reliable lab setups, documentation, and day-to-day technical support.

In my current role at the University of Salford, I provide troubleshooting and advice across a wide range of disciplines. I support principal investigators and students, and I’m known for maintaining technical continuity so research teams can move forward without delays.

Earlier, I helped run and maintain tissue culture facilities and strengthened lab quality through practical improvements like instigating mycoplasma testing and hygiene protocols. I also built credibility with stakeholders by providing formal progress presentations and submitting progress reports to industrial sponsors.

Before technician roles, I earned my PhD researching immunotherapy for fungal allergy, using tissue culture, flow cytometry, and HLA typing within Research Governance frameworks. My background in immunology, virology, and molecular biology—supported by extensive lab methods and teaching—shapes how I approach infrastructure: safe, documented, and designed to enable high-quality experimental outcomes.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Research Infrastructure Technician

Current

University of Salford

Jan 2017 - Present (9 years 3 months)

Provided technical support to biomedicine and ecosystems research centres, troubleshooting researcher needs across disciplines while advising students and assisting Principal Investigators. Built and maintained laboratory governance assets including SOPs, risk/COSHH assessments, tissue-culture hygiene protocols, flow cytometry and liquid nitrogen facility documentation.

Troubleshooting Flow Cytometry Tissue Culture Maintenance SOP Development Risk Assessment COSHH Assessments Health & Safety

Teaching Technician

University of Salford

Jan 2016 - Jan 2017 (1 year)

Prepared practical teaching materials and provided technical support to postgraduate students under tight deadlines. Maintained teaching lab resources and supported troubleshooting to ensure smooth delivery of laboratory sessions.

Laboratory Teaching Support Troubleshooting Technical Support Time Management Health & Safety

Research Scientist

Medicines Evaluation Unit

Jan 2012 - Jan 2016 (4 years)

Supported clinical trials and academic research using flow cytometry to characterize PBMCs and bronchoalveolar lavage cells via cell-surface and intracellular staining, cellular shape change assays, and cytokine output profiling. Managed flow cytometry delivery across multiple projects, including completing training in multicolour flow cytometry.

Flow Cytometry PBMC Characterisation Intracellular Staining Cell Surface Staining Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Research Assistant

Wythenshawe Hospital

Jan 2007 - Jan 2012 (5 years)

Conducted virology-focused research on Aspergillus fumigatus gene roles in signaling and allergy, using PCR and cloning to generate plasmids for yeast two-hybrid and gene knockout experiments. Collaborated with Dr Paul Bowyer and Professor David Denning to support experimental design and execution.

Molecular Biology PCR Yeast Two Hybrid Gene Knockout

Research Assistant

Cardiff University

Jan 1998 - Jan 2001 (3 years)

Investigated human cytomegalovirus effects on transcriptional regulation and cell signaling using cell culture and viral stock assays. Performed DNA/RNA extraction, RT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, reporter assays, transfection, and DNA microarray experiments to support mechanistic studies.

Cell Culture Viral Stocks Assays Western Blot Transfection Microarray Reporter Assays

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Manchester

PhD, Immunotherapy / Immunology

2007 - 2012

Activities and societies: Thesis work within the School of Translational Medicine, including patient recruitment and phlebotomy; completed multicolour flow cytometry training (BD Biosciences/BD Oxford) and ELISpot training (CTL, Ohio). Funded by AlerGenetica S.L.

PhD on rational design of immunotherapy to treat fungal allergy, supervised by Dr Paul Bowyer (viva April 2012). The work evaluated bioinformatically derived synthetic peptides using tissue culture, flow cytometry, and HLA typing within research governance requirements.

Cardiff University

Bachelor of Science with Honours, Biochemistry with Molecular Biology

1994 - 1997

Grade: 2:1

BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry with Molecular Biology (2:1), with modules including cell surface and defence, cellular signalling, and molecular biology and disease. Final-year projects involved cloning and sequencing a serine protease from Krill and a library-based study of homeotic genes in embryonic development.