Sharon Small - Scientist
- I started working at Biocompatibles in 2000 as a laboratory technician in the R&D department working primarily the extended wear contact lenses project, from there I moved to work on the cardiovascular stent project which included attending courses and working on techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy.
I was then given the opportunity of Biocompatibles funding a 5 year part time degree course in Chemistry, during which time I began to work in the Analytical laboratory and was promoted to Scientist level. This provided me with the opportunity to develop and validate Analytical methods for the API’s used within our product portfolio.
Biocompatibles had provided me the opportunity to achieve a BSc (Hons) - Chemistry during my 10 years here. I have thoroughly enjoyed the flexibility the company has provided allowing me to learn, develop and feel part of a true team atmosphere. I have been able to use many scientific techniques (including Analytical analysis) whilst still enjoying myself and being a part of a friendly, fun environment.
Clare Heaysman, PhD - Senior Scientist
- I first became aware of Biocompatibles while I was still at school, as during weekends and holidays I had a part-time job working as a sales assistant for a high street optician. I spent a lot of time advising customers on the benefits of different contact lenses and in particular the contact lens products manufactured and developed by Biocompatibles. On leaving school I went to the University of Manchester to study for a MEng in Biomedical Materials Science and it was my interest in Biocompatibles’ products that lead me to apply to them for an industrial placement in 2002.
My industrial placement lasted for a year and I was employed as a Laboratory Technician in the development team working on a cardiovascular stent project. I learnt many different analytical techniques first-hand and had the opportunity to work within a clean room manufacturing environment.
After completion of my degree in 2004 I wanted to extend my knowledge and study for a PhD. Through contact with the Human Resources Manager and Research & Technology Director at Biocompatibles I applied for a full-time ESPRC Industrial Case Studentship at the University of Brighton. The benefit of this PhD project was that it was sponsored by the company and focused on the fabrication and characterisation of their embolic bead products. It was a unique opportunity being based in the company and working alongside pioneering scientists in the development of novel medical devices. From the start I was made to feel welcome and included as part of the company. I gained skills in synthetic chemistry and developed new characterisation techniques.
In October 2007 I was employed full time at Biocompatibles as a Senior Scientist in the research group. I really enjoy working on many different projects and can use the skills I learnt during my PhD in exploring new ideas. I assess and test the feasibility of new products and support those concepts through to development. The company gives me the opportunity to travel and attend courses and conferences worldwide. I work in collaboration with others in the field, many in different universities. I have recently enrolled on the company’s management development programme and hope to use this to progress further within the company. Biocompatibles is constantly changing and you are always encouraged in your own personal development.
Jane Nicholson - Marketing Assistant
- "I have worked at Biocompatibles for almost 21 years now in various roles and I think the amount of years I have been here proves I enjoy working for the company! They are a great company to work for and have been extremely accommodating over the years, allowing me to change my working hours on two separate occasions after returning from maternity leave. They truly value their staff and, as a working mother, their flexibility has been so helpful and has allowed me to continue working for the company I have grown up in and love! The people are great here and it feels just like a family - that's why I never want to leave!"
Jo Brown - Development Scientist
- As part of my degree at Aston University, I chose to have a year in industry between my 2nd and final year. I was given the opportunity to complete this industrial placement year at Biocompatibles. During the year, I was able to develop both my practical and written scientific skills and made a lot of new friends. Upon returning to University I completed my degree in Human Biology, obtaining a first class honours degree……which I have to say was a bit of a shock as I was only at a 2:2 level upon completing my second year!
Upon finishing my degree I was offered a permanent position at Biocompatibles as a Development Scientist. I easily settled straight back into the work environment and three years down the line, I am now managing the industrial placement students that we employ. I am also being exposed to all aspects of science within a business environment, developing my personal skills.
Sean Willis PhD - Development Director
- I have been with Biocompatibles for about 15 years now. I joined soon after completing my PhD in chemistry from Birmingham University. I started as a Scientist working in the EyeCare Division and initially worked in the EyeCare New Business Development team. I was in this team for several years and was involved in many interesting and varied projects. Some of these were new contact lens cleaning and conditioning solutions, new coatings for intraocular lenses and new materials and coatings for extended wear lenses. Work in these disciplines gave me some really broad product development experience and I learnt a huge amount in a relatively short time.
My first promotion was to Project Leader in which I was now in the position to lead projects of my own and involved overseeing a multi-disciplinary team. A few years later I transferred from EyeCare to work on new products such as drug eluting stents. At first I led a number of small projects on drug coatings onto medical devices and I soon transitioned into the Licensing Division where I was employed as the Licensing Manager. I did this role for approximately 12 months and although this was quite short I learnt a great deal about working directly with external companies and interacting with staff from other organisations. An opportunity then came up to take on a large and high profile project in the area of cardiovascular which involved working with companies such as Abbott and Medtronic. This project involved the development of drug coating processes for coronary stents and then transferring the processes into commercial production in collaboration with Abbott and Medtronic. This was a very international project in which I interfaced with employees at many levels within Abbott in the US and Ireland. During this period I was promoted to Team Leader and this role involved both project management and line management.
After several years an opportunity arose to take on the role of Development Director at Biocompatibles. This is the position I hold today and I find it a very rewarding and challenging job. Today the main role I play is to develop our novel embolic drug delivery products for the local treatment of various cancers. In this role I am responsible for a number of product development projects and for the line management of a team of about 12 scientists and engineers.
You can see from my varied positions over the years that my role has changed and the areas I have worked in have transitioned from EyeCare to Cardiovascular and finally into Cancer treatment. I have stayed because I want to. The company is a fantastic company to work for and the work is constantly varied, interesting, challenging and rewarding. The company sees its people as individuals and really does value its staff - it is the people that make it a success. The people are also great to work with and even after fifteen years I still see future challenges and a rewarding and stimulating future for me at Biocompatibles.
Katie Cornelis - BrachySciences Customer Service and Contracts Manager
- I began my career with BrachySciences back in 2002 when the company was still privately owned and located in Woodbury, CT and before BrachySciences was actually even a company. I was hired as the Customer Service Manager for Advanced Care Medical & World Wide Medical Technologies, and at that time, I was the only person in the Customer Service Dept.
The company grew quickly, and I hired a Customer Service Rep, and then in 2004, the company moved to a larger facility in Oxford. In April 2005, BrachySciences was launched and another Customer Service Rep was hired to assist with order processing so I could focus more on growing the BrachySciences business. My core responsibilities are, working with the sales force in setting up new accounts and providing quotes, order forms, and implementing special needs; managing two Customer Service Reps in the day to day operations of order processing; and acting as liasion between sales, customers, production, order processing and accounting to resolve status, production, delivery and billing issues. I am also responsible for contracts for Group Purchasing Organizations. My department prides itself on reacting to customer issues immediately and strives for complete customer satisfaction.
I have enjoyed the years I’ve spent here watching the company grow, and the new and innovative products we have introduced to the brachytherapy business. I look forward to the future challenges and many more happy years with Biocompatibles.
Wayne Richardson - BrachySciences Director of Quality, Regulatory Affairs
- I was one of the initial Worldwide Technologies employees, having been hired in 1998 on a consulting basis to establish a quality system and to obtain ISO registration and CE certifications for our medical device needle products. My background includes over 30 years experience in the medical device industry and 10 years in the automobile industry as a tier one supplier of steering column components. I became a full time BrachySciences employee in 2003 and in addition to quality and regulatory responsibilities also assumed responsibility for the sterilization of our products. The following year BrachySciences encouraged and supported my training to become the facility Radiation Safety Officer.
After graduating from college I was employed by a leading synthetic suture manufacture as a quality supervisor. Today the same suture material is a key component of our ‘Brachysciences’ stranded radioactive brachytherapy products and our preplugged prostate seeding needles. Product development has been a major Brachysciences’ focus and it has been challenging and rewarding to be part of the Technical Team. I am presently involved in the regulatory aspects of country registrations, which in addition to Europe, have included Mexico, Australia and the Philippines The outlook at BrachySciences is bright, the environment challenging and I look forward to coming to work each day.