Amanda Craigen

What is your position at UNC-Chapel Hill, and how long have you been associated with the University?

Biological Safety Officer. Since August 2020

How did you initiate your career in this field or what led you to your current position?
After graduating with a degree in Biology, I began my career as a Biosafety Specialist at the University of Massachusetts. After 2 years there, I transferred to UNC as Associate Biosafety Officer in August of 2020. Eventually I was promoted to Biosafety Officer/Program manager in September of 2022.

Which sectors of the University does your role impact, and in what ways does it contribute to those areas of work?

Our team supports biological/biomedical research and keeping workers safe. We help perform risk assessments, conduct laboratory inspections, and investigate work-related injuries. We also serve on the Institutional Biosafety Committee and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and assist with reviewing protocols.

Describe what you love most about your job.

The thing I love most about my job is seeing results of groundbreaking research that can have global implications. The most interesting aspect of my job is seeing the constantly evolving various different types of research being conducted.

What advice do you have for those interested in entering a career in your line of work?

Advice I would give someone interested in entering this field of work is to look into The Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity (ABSA). They are an excellent resource for networking and have numerous resources for online learning, professional development, networking, job postings and credentialing.