Staff Profile: Lisa Bullock

Name: Lisa Bullock  

Role: Senior Technologist - Microbiology  

Length of service at Hill Labs: 14 years  

Qualifications if any: BAppSc  

Can you describe your current role and responsibilities at Hill Labs? 

My main responsibility is the development and validation of methods for our Microbiology teams across the business. Validation of methods ensures that we can successfully perform sample analysis before offering testing to our clients. I also provide technical Microbiology support to our teams. 

What inspired you to pursue this career/line of work? 

I really enjoyed science at school, particularly chemistry. But once I started tertiary study my love of microbiology grew from there. I was lucky enough to get a job in the Christchurch Microbiology lab as a Technician after finishing my studies. 

What skills do you find most essential for your job? 

I think for a Technologist it is essential to be able to adapt and thrive in a busy environment as no two days can look the same. One day might be working on a project, the next may be jumping in to help with an influx of sample testing. 

Can you briefly describe the area of science or testing you specialise in? 

I am based in the Microbiology team where we cover a range of testing for different industries in the food and environmental space. We use a range of techniques such as traditional microbiology, PCR and MALDI-TOF. 

How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements in your field? 

I often research what methodologies and instruments are being used overseas, and then assess whether there would be a benefit to implement at Hill Labs. 

What kind of impact do you think your work has on the community and/or industry? 

Microbiological testing is critical for public health by ensuring that our food and water are safe to consume.  

What’s the most challenging part of your job - and the most rewarding? 

Development work can be frustrating at times – especially when microbes don’t behave the way you want them to! But I think it is incredibly rewarding following a project right through from planning to implementation and realising the benefits this generates for both the lab and our customers. 

How do you keep learning and growing in your field? 

An area for growth for me in recent times has been public speaking, something that is completely out of my comfort zone! I have presented at several customer seminars and at the NZIFST conference (New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology).  

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in your field? 

Sometimes you learn more from when things go wrong from when they go right, therefore the ability to troubleshoot and think outside of the box are key for this industry. 

How does Hill Labs support your learning and career progression? 

I am very fortunate that I have had great career progression at Hill Labs – starting from a Technician to a Team Leader and then eventually a Senior Technologist. For each of my roles, I have had supportive line managers who have challenged me to take the next step.