Rachael Turner

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

I am a biological safety specialist and the meeting coordinator for our Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). I started working at UNC during 2020 under the CFAR HIV/STD Laboratory Core, and joined EHS in June 2021.

How did you initiate your career in this field or what led you to your current position?

I applied to the Biosafety Specialist position on a whim—it sounded interesting, and I was looking for something more challenging and lucrative than clinical specimen processing.

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

My role is most closely associated with the research community through inspections, incident investigations, and IBC administration. As part of EHS, my goal is to help our researchers understand the reasons behind our safety policies while also facilitating their compliance with state and federal regulations. Overall, I strive to provide enough resources and assistance to make the compliance process as painless as possible for all parties involved!

Describe what you love most about your job.

My coworkers! I love interacting with the rest of the biosafety team and collaborating with other departments. One of the most interesting parts of the job is hearing what other departments deal with on a day to day basis and seeing how we all fit into the University’s mission.

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

Read up on the safety basics, there are many resources available on our website and from other institutions. I also recommend reaching out to anyone in EHS to ask about their experiences! Everyone I’ve talked to had a unique path and there’s a lot of wisdom to be shared here.