A career at Siemens Healthineers Llanberis means you'll be helping to develop truly innovative technology to produce products of exceptional quality.
A 36-acre site established in 1992, the Siemens Healthineers facility in Llanberis [pictured below] is such an incredible place. It's a global company alongside a national park. Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd in northwest Wales, on the southern bank of the lake Llyn Padarn and at the foot of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.
Siemens Healthineers Llanberis is listed as an Anchor Company and an Employer of Choice by the Welsh Assembly Government. The group takes great pride, for example, in their partnerships with universities in Wales: Bangor, Swansea and Cardiff, that work with Siemens Healthineers to foster truly innovative research as well as acting as a valuable pipeline for future employees.
Siemens Healthineers Llanberis has achieved many notable accomplishments throughout the years, read about some of them here.
Be under no illusion, this is such a tremendous and unique place to work - and women are strongly encouraged to learn more about the latest career vacancies available.
Meet a remarkable Cell Culture Scientist, Sally Ashe
One of the women scientists working at Siemens Healthineers Llanberis is Sally Ashe. In her role as a Cell Culture Scientist, Sally is responsible for setting up a new laboratory and planning the future workload for that laboratory. This includes all the initial paperwork necessary for setting up a manufacturing laboratory, and making sure that all the equipment, materials and consumables are in place. Training new members of staff is key, as is and learning new techniques herself.
"Eventually I will be responsible for producing raw materials for kits used in diagnostic instruments within the laboratory that we are currently getting ready," explains Sally who is a highly organised, dependable and friendly colleague.
Keen to return to the laboratory
Sally was working at Siemens Healthineers within the Technical Operations Customer Support team. This was predominantly a desk job for Sally, analysing data and troubleshooting customer complaints and issues. "I wanted to get back into the laboratory. I really enjoy teaching and training laboratory skills and passing on the knowledge I have gained through my working life."
Sally felt that the CRMM Cell Culture Scientist role would be a great fit for her, and was invited for the job interview, and successfully secured the job.
What does the role of a Cell Culture Scientist entail?
So, from an industry perspective, what does it mean to work as a Cell Culture Scientist, and why is the work so important?
"Cell Culture Scientists generally grow living cells in culture flasks, bioreactors and plates. The cells can be either insect, plant, animal or human cells, usually cancer cells known as immortal cell lines. This can also include bacteria and moulds," explains Sally. "At Siemens Healthineers, they use insect and human cell lines, bacteria and moulds. Cell Culture Scientists are expected to be familiar with cell culture techniques, media preparation and with keeping everything extremely clean, - as per what we call the 'aseptic technique' in our industry."
Sally's responsibilities mean that she gets to work within the Infectious Disease laboratory. This is not as scary as it sounds. Sally grows various types of bacteria and moulds on agar plates and in flasks of media, collecting as much of that bacteria or mould as she can and making extracts to use in an array of different diagnostic kits which are used in the detection of illness or allergy.
Key values shaping and defining the work of Siemens Healthineers
Sally says that the work culture at Siemens Healthineers is very progressive and supportive.
"There are five important values that help shape and define our work at Siemens Healthineers," explains Sally and sights these values as being:
- Listen first
- Learn passionately
- Step boldly
- Win together
- Own it
"Everyone knows these values well and tries to incorporate them into their working week," attests Sally.
One of the things Sally always tries to achieve through her work, is doing what she actually says she will do. "I endeavour to be dependable, show up, not be late, and deliver my work on time," attests Sally
Seeking out diverse perspectives and contributions
"The company is very focused on diversity and inclusion, and actively encourages many different ways of thinking. In my recent experience, the company definitely acts on their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policy. Many employees come from diverse cultures, and they have many ethnicities and abilities. I love working with people who are from all over the world. I learn so much from each of them," explains Sally.
Sally says that the support for women is good at Siemens Healthineers, but there is always more that can be done. "Ideally, we still need to be having more open discussions in the workplace. Mentoring and supporting groups to be able to talk openly about issues that women still need to tackle in their daily working lives, or through managing children and childcare or menstrual cycles or menopause, is key."
A great company to work for
Sally is keen to see further women applying for jobs at Siemens Healthineers and highlights some of the key skills and qualities that tend to be most valued in the company.
"Siemens Healthineers is such a good company to work for. Some of the most core skills valued here are being knowledgeable in your field, as the company really appreciates great expertise of any kind. Also, I would say you need to be quite flexible - so don’t be afraid of change. Also, be dedicated and always work hard to get the job done. Plus, be super organised because this definitely helps with time management and can certainly help relieve any feelings of being overwhelmed," she suggests.
Read about further women working at Siemens Healthineers Llanberis and learn about the incredible work they do like:
Salient career advice to follow your dreams
The best piece of career advice that Sally has received through her own career journey is: "Don't be afraid to follow your dream, whatever your age. I always wanted to be a scientist, and yet I wasn’t for the first half of my life. And now, here I am in my 50's doing the job I truly love," reflects Sally. "In my 20's, I didn’t believe it would ever happen."
Enjoying the great outdoors with good friends
When Sally isn't working, she prefers to spend her downtime investigating her local area.
Sally lives on Anglesey, an island in Wales off the mainland's northwest coast. Anglesey is well known for its beaches and ancient sites. The island is accessed by the 19th century Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge, rebuilt in the 20th century.
"A lot of my free time is spent birdwatching, red squirrel hunting, wandering on the beaches. Plus of course, I really enjoy socialising with my friends," says Sally.
Research scientific jobs at Siemens Healthineers
A career at Siemens Healthineers Llanberis means you'll be helping to develop truly innovative technology to produce products of exceptional quality. Individually and as a team, the company recognises the vital contribution made in creating medical equipment that transforms healthcare and the lives of people across the globe.
And, Siemens Healthineers has been ranked as one of the UK's Best Workplaces™ for Wellbeing!
If working today for a better tomorrow appeals, then check out the latest job vacancies with Siemens Healthineers.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.