Peter Owens

Work

What’s your job title?

STO light microscopy specialist for Anatomy Imaging and Microscopy (formerly CMI)

How long have you been working here?

10 years +

Where did you work before this position?

Before embarking on a PhD , I worked in the software industry and before that the pharmaceutical sector.

What does your day-to-day look like?

I manage and run the advanced light microscopes at AIM. This involves a range of tasks from the equipment maintenance to training postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. Training involves hands on microscope experience and image processing support. Imaging needs vary from project to project so I also consult with research teams to provide the optimum procedure for what they need. I engage with research staff from both colleges of Medicine and Science and Engineering and because of this, every week , even every day, is different. I am also involved in a number of collaborative research projects at any one time, where my work has a large impact on the outcomes and deliverables. Furthermore, I contribute to the Structured PhD programme in Core Skills for Chemical research.

When would someone come to you?

When they have a burning scientific question that may be answered by advanced imaging.

What motivates you at work?

I am motivated to provide the best expertise I can to any research group at UG (and external) that require access to advanced imaging technologies.

What’s the most exciting part of your job?

It is very rewarding when a researcher gets to see beyond the capabilities of their own laboratory, when the image that they are seeing has confirmed their scientific hypothesis. They often smile or even laugh out loud. This is the ‘wow’ factor that we who work in core facilities strive for.

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Quite proud of the recent publications I have been involved in. The microscopy part often forms a key part of the research and a good image is definitely worth a thousand words. From an organisational point of view, I drove the pilot and subsequent full implementation of our core facility booking system (used by three UG core facilities). This is software that manages the bookings, charges etc and is now invaluable in terms of the operation of the 3 cores using it.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?

That technical staff do not contribute to research outputs. I have a PhD in Chemistry and went into this role as I have a flair for working with advanced microscope systems.

What’s something you find challenging about your work (What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work)?

The divide between academic and technical roles at UG. This is the greatest de-motivating aspect of the job and something which needs to change within the university culture, across all domains.

Personal/Social

What was your first paying job?

Had my own window cleaning business when I was 15. Ended abruptly when my ladder collapsed and left me hanging from a second floor windowsill. Guess this is where my love of climbing comes from.

Where did you grow up?

Greystones Co. Wicklow

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Surrender by Bono

Are you a cat or dog person (or neither)?

Cats make me sneeze so it has to be dogs – I have a golden retriever called Luna.

Are you a coffee or tea person?

Coffee of course.

What’s the best place you’ve travelled to?

Lots of great places , too many to list but recently East Greenland . I sailed there for an exploratory mountaineering expedition in 2022.

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

Time with the family after a busy week. And when theres an extra moment, Climbing or hill running.

What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?

A sailing boat, water and food.