This is particularly so during ICSI where the embryologist has to organize between two joysticks, one in every hand, to put in the sperm into the egg.
“It takes a certain kind of character to suit this role, ” Chan smiled. Additionally you need to be tidy and meticulous, what the lady describes as “a bit of OCD”, mentioning obsessive compulsive disorder, a term usually used to reflect your tendency to repeat certain behaviours.
“Some people think an embryologist’s job is very glamorous, but I always tell people that we’re like a kitchen: We are making a recipe, cooking the broth, then later we put it within the oven before the last product is ready, ” said Chan.
THOROUGH TRAINING ON THE JOB
All embryologists come from biology backgrounds and the minimum qualification is a degree within science – right now there isn’t a basic education course in embryology, said Chan. The embryologists in Singapore are trained in-house, in the laboratory. Depending on just how long one takes to master specific technical knowledge for certain tasks, schooling could range from 3 to 5 years, she stated.