Profile
Joy Kaye
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About Me:
I live with my husband and two teenage children in a lovely village near York. We have a dog, cat, two rabbits and many, many houseplants!
I enjoy holidaying with friends and family, camping, gardening and board games.
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I love animals and always thought I would be working with them in some way but somehow I found myself working with plants and really enjoy it.
I enjoy my own company, just spending time looking at the birds eating food I’ve put out for them whilst quietly drinking a coffee but also love being with friends and family, playing games together and being loud and competitive!
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
Molecular Biologist working with plants, insects and food to protect food security and plant health
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Plants are so important to our environment and our food source, this job has made me realise just how much we need to protect plants and trees from the many pests and diseases that they can get. For example, if we didn’t stop the yellow legged hornet from settling in the UK our bees would struggle to live and that would greatly affect the amount of plants and trees that would grow.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up at approximately 7am after quite a number of snooze button repeats. Drink coffee, maybe do some yoga and feed all my pets. Quick shower, grab my packed lunch and get to work around 9am. I read my emails, catch up with tasks or analysis at my computer before heading to the labs.
I eat lunch around 12 and on a nice weather day will sit on the balcony overlooking our lake, its so peaceful and sunny there. After lunch, more lab work or looking at results, more emails, a few meetings with colleagues and home around 6- 7pm.
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experiments in the lab might be extracting DNA, quantifying DNA (finding out how much there is and what quality it is), amplifying (making lots of copies of) DNA using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and then viewing the results on a computer which can tell me if the pest/disease/species/etc is present in the sample and maybe even how much of it I have extracted.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
As well as a molecular biologist I am also the STEM coordinator for plant health and biosecurity so I would use the money to buy much needed resources or, if possible, help local schools with additional funds (coach) to be able to visit us at Fera so they can see science in action!
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Education:
Went to a few primary schools in the North and South of England as we moved a lot but then went to just one secondary school at Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Left school at 16 and attended Bishop Burton college to study animal care then went to Bangor University to study Zoology with animal ecology but left after 2 weeks due to a change of mind, returning to Bishop Burton to join a Countryside Management course where i gained a Higher National Diploma.
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Qualifications:
GCSE’s
English Language -C
English Literature – B
Maths – D!
Science – CC
French – D
Geography – C
Art – C
Child Development – B
Keyboarding skills – D
National Diploma in Animal Care
Higher National Diploma in Countryside Management
Higher National Certificate in Bioscience
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Work History:
Many, many jobs…worked in a greenhouse tending to seedlings and plants ready to go to markets and garden centres, did work experience in a zoo, cleaner, supermarket shop worker, glass collector in a night club, worked behind the bar in a local pub and finally baker/shop assistant before starting at Fera Science!
My first job at Fera was as a laboratory attendant, cleaning lab glassware and calibrating equipment then I got a job as an assistant molecular biologist and progressed to my current role, Molecular biologist. I’ve been at Fera now for almost 26 years.
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Current Job:
Molecular Biologist. Do a range of molecular biology tasks on plants and food. DNA extractions, PCR (making lots of copies of the DNA that i am interested in) to test for presence of pests and diseases of plants. Also, identify and quantify the amount of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in food as well as detection of meat and fish species for authenticity of food products. Additionally, test invasive yellow legged hornet (formerly Asian Hornets) samples found in the UK.
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Employer:
Fera Science Ltd. is
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
accidental molecular biologist
What did you want to be after you left school?
vet
Were you ever in trouble at school?
i was very quiet and shy at school
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
i'd be working with animals
Who is your favourite singer or band?
very tricky question...Stone Roses, The Smiths, so many more
What's your favourite food?
Cake!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Be more confident, care less about what others think, be less lazy!
Tell us a joke.
how do you get 100 pikachu's into a car? Pokemon/poke them on!!
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
shy, determined and kind
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