Welcome: Dan Trigg

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a chartered civil engineer and I’ve worked in different capacities in the building and construction space. I worked for a contractor, delivering large infrastructure projects, such as roads, tunnels, bridges all over the UK. 

I also worked as a building designer and lived in Australia for a while. During my time there, I moved across to project management. So rather than designing buildings, I worked with clients to understand what they wanted, then led a design and contractor procurement process, then oversaw the build and handover to the client. I’ve done that since 2005 for different organisations, including AstraZeneca in the UK. 

What do you do at EMBL-EBI?

I am the Head of Campus Operations at EMBL-EBI, which means I manage EMBL-EBI’s relationship with the Wellcome Genome Campus, where EMBL-EBI is a tenant. My role is to represent EMBL-EBI in discussions concerning campus-wide topics.

I also oversee the Facilities, Health and Safety and Reception teams, which are crucial for the smooth running of the institute. The Facilities team deals with anything linked to our buildings, from maintenance to cleaning and space planning. Health and Safety’s remit covers fire safety, workstation set-up, mental health and well-being, and first aid among other things. And finally, our friendly reception team is the first point of contact for many, and helps us create a welcoming and pleasant environment for our staff, fellows and visitors.

What are your priority projects?

I joined in the summer of 2024, during the final stages of the Thornton Building construction project. This is EMBL-EBI’s new building on the Wellcome Genome Campus, which is set to accommodate the growth of the institute in recent years. The building has been designed with environmental sustainability and collaboration at its centre, and the intention to support the continuous data growth in the life sciences. 

At the moment, my team and I are working very hard behind the scenes to prepare the building for its first occupants, making sure it’s a welcoming and well-equipped space. 

The campus is a vibrant community and a world-leading hub for genomics and data science – creating a welcoming and collaborative environment for our staff and fellows is important for nurturing innovation. 

What do you enjoy most about working at EMBL-EBI so far?

I find it extremely satisfying to use my skills to support the incredible science happening at EMBL-EBI. Although I’m not a scientist, I find it fascinating how many practical applications bioinformatics supports, from the development of new drugs and vaccines, to new and sustainable solutions for agriculture, and exciting biotech products. 

Before starting here, I wasn’t aware of the huge open data ecosystem that underpins the life sciences, or how much scientists worldwide rely on it. And every day I’m impressed by how colleagues with different skills and professions – from science, technology, administration and more – come together to support this unique research infrastructure.