Rebecca Fitzgerald

Team Leader of Instrument team in Trace Elements.

 

Learn more about working at Hill Laboratories from Rebecca Fitzgerald the team leader of the Instrument team in Trace Elements.

What is the day like at work in the Trace Elements team?

I work closely with the sample preparation team leader on a daily basis to ensure that all samples are processed efficiently and effectively as possible throughout the laboratory.  I have recently been involved with the successful recruitment of three Technical Assistants who will be joining Trace Elements over the next couple of months and will become a part of the sample preparation team. It is very rewarding to be involved with the recruitment of new team members, and watch their laboratory skills and confidence develop as they learn all of the different analyses.

How have you progressed through the organisation?

I started my career in science at Hill Laboratories back in August 2001 where I was employed as a laboratory technician in the Trace Elements team. I was responsible for analysing water, soil, plant and a number of food matrices for trace heavy metal analysis, which also included operating analytical instruments and interpreting data. Even though I was not a supervisor in my initial role at Hill Laboratories, I took on a number of leadership roles as a worksheet approver and trainer. It wasn’t long before my supervisory skills were recognised and in August 2002, I was promoted to Team Leader of Trace Elements.

I left Hill Laboratories in March 2003 to go overseas and promised I would be back in six months…two and a half year later I returned to New Zealand! Fortunately I just happened to be in the right place at the right time as there was a vacancy at Hill Laboratories…Trace Elements Team Leader! It was almost like I had never gone overseas! Here I was, the team leader of the same team I left back in 2003 and working with some of the original team members again.

What is Hill Laboratories like as a place to work?

Hill Laboratories has given me the opportunity to fulfil my career as a scientist, which was my goal when I became a first year university student back in 1996. I was very fortunate to be approached by Hills in 2001 when I was fresh out of university having just completed my Masters of Science degree. I really had no idea what I was going to do once I had completed my degree but Hill Laboratories gave me the opportunity to start developing my science career, and I haven't looked back since. The skills I have developed during my time at Hills have enabled me to secure some exciting roles overseas. I am very thankful for this invaluable experience, which is why I think Hill Laboratories is such a great place to work! Great people, Great Opportunities, Great Company!

 

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