Experience

Click the icons below to find out more about my various roles.

Lapworth Museum of Geology logo
University of Birmingham logo
Darwin's Door logo

Preparation and Conservation

Between 26 – 29 August 2025, I worked under expert fossil preparator and conservator Nigel Larkin. At his facility, I gained knowledge in fossil consolidation using various binding agents, matrix removal with both air pens and sodium bicarbonate powder, and dejacketing of specimens from the field.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Professional Placement | Feb 2022 – May 2022

I undertook a self-sourced placement in collaboration with the University of Birmingham. The project was designed with the borough Keeper of Geology, Graham Worton, and involved identification of fossil taxa across seven diverse phyla through morphology. Once assigned to a genus, specimens were catalogued onto the digital database and each adhered with a unique identifying code. The results of this study helped generate a comprehensive view of the diversity of the Gorstian Stage of the Lower Elton Formation at Castle Hill, Dudley.

Image by Graham Worton.

Birmingham Museums Trust

Artist Research Team | Nov 2020 – Jul 2022

With passion for supporting local museums, I saw this project through until final completion. I researched various artists whose work is held in the BMT collection and provided a synthesised biography for the collections management system, assisting the Curatorial and Collections Teams. The data included birth date, death date, nationality, and major life events. Important skills developed through this role include computer competency; excellent attention to detail; reliability; commitment; teamwork; and an extensive knowledge of the collections’ artists.

Thinktank Museum Assistant | Aug 2017 – Jul 2019

I have volunteered at the Thinktank Science Museum on numerous separate occasions (21 – 25 Aug 2017; 28 Oct 2017; 29 Jul – 2 Aug 2019). I worked in a small team as well as individually to deliver a range of activities to visitors. These included games, craft sessions, and learning experiences for younger visitors, along with operation of the planetarium. I helped run stalls including sunspot observation, rocket-making and launching, space-themed badge making, and construction with wooden blocks. At one a Halloween event, I manned a stand where visitors were encouraged to make their own ‘blood’ from household items such as cereal, which motivated visitors to learn about the components that make up their own blood. Here, I have acquired valuable experience in an informal teaching environment while frequently interacting with the public.

Progressive Palaeontology 2019

Events Volunteer | Jun 2019

As an undergraduate, I played an active role in welcoming guests and speakers, setting up posters and the final auction, as well as arranging refreshments. I attended numerous talks and spoke with fellow students about their research, developing my professional network. I wrote about the event at Darwin’s Door:
Progressive Palaeontology 2019: Day One
Progressive Palaeontology 2019: Day Two

Skills

  • Photography and image editing.
  • Professional curation and accession of museum objects.
  • Social media proficiencies.
  • Software proficiencies: the Microsoft suite; Palaeobiology Database; Corel Painter Essentials 7; ImageJ; Blender; Altair HyperMesh; SPIERSEdit; Abaqus; Past 4.0; SedLog; GeoRose; Stereonet 10.0; Artec Studio.
  • Extensive array of field skills from localities including Southern France, Northern Ireland, Pembrokeshire, Assynt, the Isle of Skye, and the Isle of Wight.
  • Wet and dry lab experience: fossil casting and analysis, specimen preparation, optical microscopic work.
  • Research and reference skills.

Training

  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Completed Jan 2023
  • Data Protection (GDPR) | Completed Jan 2023
  • Health and Safety Induction and Awareness | Completed Jan 2023
  • Introduction to Race Equality | Completed Jan 2023
  • Introduction to Contensis CMS | Completed Aug 2023
  • International Risks | Completed Aug 2023
  • PDR Reviewee Briefing | Completed Aug 2023
  • Social Media Marketing | Completed Aug 2023
  • Location and Movement Control | Completed Sep 2023
  • From Couch to Accreditation: Getting Ready for your Application | Completed Sep 2023
  • Safeguarding | Completed Nov 2023
  • Mental Health Awareness | Completed Nov 2023
  • Mental Health & Your Role as a Leader | Completed Nov 2023
  • LGBTQ+ Ally Workshop | Completed Nov 2023
  • Getting Your House in Order – Loans In and Loans Out | Completed Jan 2024
  • Cybersecurity Essentials | Completed Jul 2025

Other Experience

Senior Kitchen and Bar Staff | The Glades Football Centre, Solihull | Oct 2017 – Sep 2018

While it may seem less academic, this position actually developed necessary and transferable abilities. I was able to work calmly under intense pressure and notably amplify crucial time management skills. Through frequent face-to-face encounters with the public, I strengthened my customer service and satisfaction skills. Here I achieved a Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering certificate, accredited by City & Guilds.

Volunteer and Project Leader | National Citizen Service | Jul 2016 – Aug 2016

This position enabled development of my ability to communicate and collaborate with complete strangers after only a short period of time, leading to effective teamwork. I was nominated by my peers as Project Leader while working on an awareness campaign for Solihull Young Carers. This allowed me to enhance my prowess as an effective team member while also allowing me to take on more responsibility, such as budgeting, distributing tasks, and ensuring our campaign was ready for the deadline. My confidence, verbal communication, and presentation skills developed by delivering two speeches, one to private investors and one to the public, as well as many interactions with the community on the street while campaigning.

Park Maintenance and Animal Welfare Volunteer | Sheldon Country Park | Jun 2015

During the summer of 2015, I volunteered for a week caring for farm animals and maintaining park aesthetic and operations. This role helped me gain a deeper appreciation for the daily needs of other living creatures, while greatly enhancing my abilities to keep an area professionally presentable, despite the challenges of doing so on a farm site. Through this role, I engaged with many members of the community from a range of ages and provided information on the animals they were seeing and our services.