I did my Biological Sciences degree at the University of Birmingham, graduating summer 1993.  Working for my degree convinced me that my working life would not continue in a wet lab environment - no way! But at the time, I wondered what else in research was available to me?

After applying for an inappropriate job at University of Cambridge Prof. Michael Ashburner offered me another job as a literature curator for FlyBase. I accepted and thoroughly enjoyed the next 5 years (Oct 1993-Nov 1998) working for FlyBase: 6 monthly trips to USA, attending conferences and acquainting myself with all aspects of the wonderful genus Drosophila (genetics, phenotypes, ecology etc).  I met and worked with many of the researchers interested in Drosophila and enjoyed the reputation that came with working for FlyBase.

After 5 years I felt it was time to move on and spread my wings, show the world I had ambition. With my experience in Drosophila, I successfully got a job as an annotator of Swiss-prot, starting Dec 1998.  My principal curation task is annotation of Drosophila protein sequences. What wonderful sequences I have found these to be, a mixed bunch of protein isoforms, variant sequences, frameshifts etc - more than enough to keep me entertained! I am using many of the links I gained through my work with FlyBase to help me with my current job and Michael Ashburner is a name that still regularly crops up sending me queries and problems!  Is there any escape??!!

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