My Work Experience at TwinsUK
30th July 2026 – by Estelle Clark
My work experience week at TwinsUK has been invaluable. Having the opportunity to talk to so many passionate people about their work was definitely a highlight, and seeing firsthand how everyone contributes to such a complex and important area of research was really inspiring. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and eager to share their experiences and career journeys, which I found really helpful.
On the first day, I learned about the work of TwinsUK and the studies they are conducting, including the Eat Fibre study, which is currently taking place. Being a twin myself, hearing about the twin research they carry out was fascinating. I also had the opportunity to speak with some of the study managers about how they organise projects involving so many twins. It was really interesting to discover the variety of roles within scientific research, many of which I didn’t even know existed before this week. I was also lucky enough to talk with Professor Claire Steves, Head of the Department at TwinsUK. Speaking with her was brilliant, and being able to discuss the real-world impact of her research was one of the highlights of my week.
The next day, I helped prepare sample collection packs that are posted to TwinsUK participants before visiting the laboratories where these samples are processed. I found it fascinating to see how all the different teams—including the laboratory staff, clinic team, researchers and administrative staff—work together to ensure the research runs smoothly. I loved exploring the labs and seeing the impressive equipment, as well as learning how the laboratory technicians extract DNA from participants’ samples.
On Wednesday, I learned about medical ethics and the importance of strong ethics statements in medical research. This was particularly interesting because it was something I knew very little about beforehand, and I now understand how essential it is. I especially enjoyed shadowing one of the twins during a typical clinical visit. It was fascinating to see the range of assessments, including DXA scans and eye imaging, and to observe how kind and supportive the clinic team were throughout the visit, making it a positive experience for both the twins and everyone involved.
The following day, I spoke with more researchers about their microbiome research, which I found particularly insightful as the gut microbiome is such an exciting and rapidly developing area of science. It was also valuable to hear about their career paths and the advice they would give to someone interested in research. Another highlight was speaking with a clinician about her role combining clinical practice with research. It was inspiring to hear about the flexibility this career offers, and I came away from the conversation feeling very motivated. In the afternoon, I learned about epigenetics and attended a departmental meeting.
On Friday, I had the opportunity to get involved in more creative tasks, including creating social media content. It really showed me the wide range of skills that contribute to making research accessible and engaging, and highlighted how many different careers support scientific research.
Overall, I had a wonderful week and learned so much about TwinsUK and medical research as a whole. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to meet and learn from so many knowledgeable and inspiring people. I would highly recommend work experience at TwinsUK to anyone interested in science, medicine or research.