Fayme Padilla
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science graduate, Fayme Padilla says she loves biochemistry as it is both challenging and rewarding in practice.
"It's like solving a puzzle; you put things together and run experiments to try to find solutions, which is why I like it."
"In second year, we looked at how doctors monitor diabetes patients; we learnt how to make a diagnosis of certain conditions from studying and comparing different urine and enzyme samples. In third year, we started doing more advanced biochemistry stuff and I really liked all of the projects we did, they were really interesting."
"Studying Science at UTS was a good experience. It's relaxed and friendly, and made uni pleasant and easy. The new labs and facilities are great too! We have lots of public spaces where we can just chill out while waiting for our next class or prac. There are also heaps of learning resources such as the study centres to help us - like the Chemistry Learning Centre."
"I enjoy science because you are helping people even though you do not deal with them directly. You are working towards innovation and discovering new science and technology, maybe develop a new vaccine or cure, or develop a new method to identify certain diseases or techniques - the sky is your limit, basically."
"Specific to pathology - which is the area I am interested in, everyday is a challenge as you're faced with different experiments daily to try to solve problems, and what and why is it causing the problem. So without interacting with the patients directly, you’re still helping them and I think that is an achievement."
"My advice to future students is not to rush and nominate a major. It is much better to choose a generic Bachelor of Science degree, if you are not too sure about where your interests lie. You can experience some of the subjects to see what you like and what you don't, and then choose your major accordingly. I chose my major at the end of my first year of study, which was great as I felt more confident over what I want to do as well."
Following on her undergraduate degree, Padilla was offered the position of Hospital Scientist with the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR). She rotates around three different hospital laboratories to run different analysers and machines that perform specific tests in the areas of Haematology, Coagulation and Haemostasis and Biochemistry. She has also been trained in operating various analysers and will be going for Transfusion or blood banking, Morphology and Microbiology, where her job is to identify what's normal and what's not and exercise individual judgement in the significance of each result and initiate a response according to laboratory procedures. She also performs daily maintenance on each analyser and its quality control procedures.
