Nikol Valcheva

Focused Biomedical Scientist demonstrating a speciality in blood sciences. Astute professional determined to find effective treatments for deadly diseases and debilitating conditions. Ready to join a new organisation, collaborating with other professionals in a laboratory environment.

I completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2023, which involved challenges across volunteering, physical activities, skill development, and a self-sufficient expedition. Through this experience, I developed key skills such as teamwork, leadership, time management and resilience. For the volunteering section, I contributed to a Christmas food bank, enhancing my interpersonal communication and community engagement. The physical section improved my discipline and goal setting as I committed to the gym while learning how to bake, which strengthened my creativity and dedication. During the expedition, I worked collaboratively with a team, overcoming challenges like navigating unfamiliar terrains and adapting to changing conditions, which honed my problem-solving and adaptability. Balancing these commitments with my academic and personal responsibilities taught me valuable time management and organisational skills. Overall, the Duke of Edinburgh Award provided me with a well-rounded, practical skill set and a deeper understanding of perseverance, planning, and community contribution. Through this, I won the Jack Petchey Award, which was an amazing experience as it showed me that all my hard work was recognised.

I have completed an Advanced Phlebotomy course, which has given me a further understanding of blood science and taught me how to make the patient comfortable when performing the procedure. This gave me great confidence as I was able to practice and gain the experience required for a future job in that field.