My Work Experience at TwinsUK

30th July 2026 – by Juliette Clark

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at TwinsUK? I spent a week at the London headquarters on work experience, and I’m here to tell you all about it!

As you may already know, TwinsUK is a research organisation that studies and gathers data from both identical and non-identical twins. The overall aim is to understand how our health and ageing change over time, while also sharing data with other studies to help researchers better understand the human body.

My week started with a tour of the department, including the amazing balcony overlooking the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament. Along with the other work experience students, Estelle and Ryan, I met two PhD students who shared their journeys to TwinsUK. We also listened to a presentation from Tom about a new study aiming to identify biomarkers for early-onset colorectal cancer. His research addresses one of the UN Global Health Challenges by improving our understanding of early-onset disease. It was fascinating to learn how clinical studies are carefully designed and refined to make participation as easy as possible, while ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Later that day, we met Professor Claire Steves, Head of the Department. It was incredibly insightful to hear about her research into how factors such as diet influence ageing. She also explained how everyone at TwinsUK brings their own expertise together to carry out impactful research, which really highlighted the collaborative nature of the department.

On Tuesday, we spent the morning learning about the work of the Operations Team. We helped prepare sample collection packs to be sent to twins taking part in current studies. Afterwards, we visited the laboratories to see how the samples are processed and even learned how scientists can extract DNA from bacteria found in stool samples to study the gut microbiome.

Wednesday began with an interactive session on research ethics led by Ayran. We learned how TwinsUK ensures research is carried out to the highest standards by protecting participant data, minimising risks and following rigorous ethical procedures.

We also had the opportunity to shadow a pair of twins during their clinic visit. It was fascinating to see the wide range of assessments they completed, from memory tests to bone density scans. The advanced equipment, including DXA scanners and retinal imaging, helps make the experience as smooth and comfortable as possible for participants. My favourite part was seeing the detailed images produced by the retinal scanner and learning how they reveal the connection between the retina and the nervous system. It was also great to chat with the twins and hear about their experiences of taking part in research.

On Thursday, we spoke with Ruth and Bano, who are molecular epidemiologists. They explained how they analyse data from twin studies to uncover relationships between different factors, such as specific gut bacteria and ageing. We also learned some fascinating facts about the gut microbiome and how it influences many aspects of our health.

Later, we met Katherine, a doctor who divides her time between working in the clinic and carrying out research. I thought it was really interesting to hear how she combines both roles. She explained how her research is investigating whether certain drugs used to treat prostate cancer may accelerate ageing. The final person we met was Peter, a master’s student studying epigenetics. He uses computer programming to identify regions of the genome where chemical changes are more likely to occur. I really enjoyed hearing about his work and came away feeling inspired.

As you can probably tell, there are so many different roles at TwinsUK. Although everyone’s job is unique, together they all contribute to world-leading research into ageing and population health. If you take part in a TwinsUK study, there are likely to be more than twenty members of staff involved—from recruiting participants and sending out study packs, to running clinic visits, processing samples and analysing the results. TwinsUK truly is one hardworking and dedicated team.

During my time at TwinsUK, everyone was incredibly welcoming and happy to talk to us about our own career aspirations and study options. I received so much valuable advice and left feeling inspired to make a difference in the fields of health and medicine.

A huge thank you to everyone for making my week so enjoyable, and especially to Adna and Aaruthy for all of their support and guidance!