Super Lab

Alexandre describes the Super Lab - a Level 2 laboratory.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Science students have access to some wonderful facilities, including our SuperLab. It is considered a Level 2 laboratory, which means that we work with pathogenic and infection organisms that are linked with human disease, presenting a moderate health hazard. But don’t worry we have Protective Personal Equipment and lab coats will be provided for the student’s safety given the possible hazardous agents you are working with.

Common examples are HIV, pathogenic strains like Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella or hepatitis A, B and C.

How the lab is organised

Each station has a computer and a microscope with different lenses, these will depend what experiment you are doing. The lab is perfect for teaching because it has speakers and a microphone allowing clear communication and the lecturer’s station has a camera that broadcasts to all screens granting a clear practical explanation and visualisation of the procedures.

Around the room, we have a wide range of glassware and equipment such as a centrifuge, incubators, 3-D printer, precise scales and instruments that allow you to do your practicals smoothly, assuring that you have the most realistic lab setting, preparing you for your future careers as scientists.

Conclusion

Finally, it is in the lab that I have learned the most, putting into practise the theory we learn in lecture is so gratifying, all the staff in the SuperLab is wonderful and very experienced, and if you are a first year, you might have me demonstrating and helping the lecturers with some laboratory sessions.

Alexandre studies Medical Science with ARU. If you're interested in this, or other courses, come along to an Open Day to find out more about studying with us.