Dr James Furniss on managing the Genomics Platform Core Facility

Dr James Furniss is a Facility Manager at the Roslin Institute. Here talks about his work in the Genomics Platform Core Facility, and his career so far.

Please tell us how your work involves genomics or makes use of genomic technologies?

I run the Genomics Platform Core Facility at Roslin, where the primary focus is on the production of scRNA-seq libraries for UoE researchers and the wider community. 

Please summarise your previous work and career so far.

I came to University and science a bit later than most as I didn’t start my undergrad (at Edinburgh) until I was 23, where I studied Plant Science. I followed up with Ph.D. also studying plants and at Edinburgh, before working as a lab manager in various labs, when the Genomics Platform was created I was lucky enough to be appointed to run it.

James Furniss in a lab coat

What inspired you to follow your career path?

Inspired is the wrong word but, I realised during my PhD studies that the bit I actually enjoyed in science was the bench work. Writing papers, grants and my even my Ph.D. thesis I found tedious, so I thought if I was to stay in science it would have to be lab-based. Running a scRNA-seq facility in Roslin allows me to be involved in many interesting and varied projects and always at the bench. 

James in the lab

If you could have tea with anyone (alive or dead), who would it be? What would you talk about?

It would have to be David Attenborough! Surely every biologist alive wants to meet him? He’s done so much to promote the natural world and he’s led such an incredible life that I’m sure he would be a fascinating dinner guest. 

What is the most unusual thing you have done during your career?

As a bench scientist I don’t get to go anyway too often but I recently went to help out with a scRNA-seq project in a lab at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. It was great to work somewhere completely different, visit their farms and go on safari on your day off!

James and a Giraffe

Do you have any advice for people wanting to pursue a research career? 

I think for a research career you have to follow what interests you as that will keep you motivated to carry on and stay curious, when you’re looking at yet another blank PCR gel.

What do you like best about your job?

I like that I get involved in so many different research groups, every time someone comes to me with a project there’s usually a new and unique aspect.

What do you like the least? 

Paperwork, see earlier question!

How do you spend your time outside of research? 

Outside of work I enjoy running and have recently started strength training; there is something meditative about repeatedly picking up putting down heavy objects. I also love cooking and baking, which is just lab benchwork at home. 

James and an ice cream

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