Profile
Mark Ridgill
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About Me:
I’m a research chemist who lives in Oxfordshire, my hobbies include golf gardening and real ale!
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I was born and raised in Doncaster and was a lanky unsporting type until I discovered basketball. I progressed from local league to junior national league and played at county level for over 30 years. I now play golf most weekends at a modest but enjoyable level. My lockdown hobby was turning beer bottle tops into fridge magnets!
I got a job in a working man’s club whilst in the sixth form which gave me much more self confidence.
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I’m a medicinal chemist, I design and make chemicals that are tested to see if they can be used to treat diseases.
There are two parts to the job, I use computer models, scientific papers and my experience to invent new chemical compounds. I then actually synthesise (make) the compounds (chemicals) using organic chemistry.
The compounds are tested for their activity and we use this information to design the next compounds.
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My Typical Day:
I’m not an early bird so strong coffee first thing is a must! I arrive at work around 8-30 and I spend the day thinking of the next molecules to make and making them. I generally leave around 5-30.
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I manage a team of chemists and together we design and synthesise (make) molecules to test as treatments for diseases.
I use the data stored on computers to design the next molecules to make. I use organic chemistry to join together small molecules into bigger molecules. We make sure the molecules are pure and send them to be tested.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
My company is just starting to look into outreach activities so I would use the prize money to give these activities a boost.
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Education:
The McAuley School Doncaster
Worthing technical college
Brighton Polytechnic
Imperial College London
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Qualifications:
GCSE’s Integrated science (2 O’ levels), maths, computer studies, english lang, english lit, history
AO maths
A level general studies
BTEC ONC Chemistry
BTEC HNC Chemistry
BSc Chemistry
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Work History:
Bar work
Lab technician – production support
Lab technician – Chemical development
Student – summer jobs – petrol pump attendant – metal worker
MSD UK
Staff chemist – organic synthesis
Research chemist – Synthetic/medicinal chemist
Senior research chemist – Synthetic/medicinal chemist
Research associate – medicinal chemist
Pfizer – Senior scientist
Evotec – Senior scientist
Novartis – Scientist 2
Evotec
Senior Scientist 1
Principal scientist
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Finds new treatments
What did you want to be after you left school?
Got a job as a lab technician
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes, mostly for talking & joking
Who is your favourite singer or band?
David Bowie
What's your favourite food?
Chicken chana balti
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A better golf swing, Better at DIY, my own brewery
Tell us a joke.
How many moles in a guacamole? Avocado's number!
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