
Tapiwa: chemist
Tapiwa is a chemist who can do some tasks at home, but she needs a lab to conduct her experiments. This is because her work requires various specialised equipment. To run these experiments, her workspace must have proper ventilation and precise temperature control.
Tapiwa’s daily work involves a mix of tasks such as planning and refining experiments, simulating results with algorithms, ordering materials, conducting experiments, writing proposals and papers, and attending meetings. Occasionally, she needs to purchase new equipment through the University’s procurement process.
Collaboration is key to her role. She regularly communicates with other researchers, both at the University of York and externally. She has informal discussions with lab colleagues and students to refine and improve experiments, and more formal team meetings, often via video conferencing but sometimes in person.
Tapiwa also attends conferences and workshops across the UK and Europe. She typically travels by train within the UK and by plane for European events. When in-person attendance isn’t necessary, she participates through video conferencing.