Employee Profile: Jess Donald, Post Mortem Support Officer
Jess Donald riding her horse in the Lauder Common Riding this summer.
Meet Jess Donald, a dedicated member of our team at the St Boswells Disease Surveillance Centre. At just 21 years old, Jess joined us in April 2025 as a Post Mortem Support Officer (PMSO), bringing with her a passion for animal science and rural life.
From City to Countryside
Originally from Edinburgh, Jess moved to the Borders with her family in 2014 and quickly embraced the rural lifestyle. She’s a keen equestrian and owns a horse named Millie. Jess also lends a hand on a local beef and sheep farm, where she helps with lambing a flock of 1,000 ewes and assists with clipping and dipping.
A Community Role with Prestige
This year, Jess was honoured to be selected as the Cornet’s Lass for the Lauder Common Riding—one of the oldest Border festivals, with roots tracing back to the 1600s. The highlight of the event is a spectacular ride of nearly 200 horses across Lauder’s common land. As Cornet’s Lass, Jess proudly represented the township at several similar festivals throughout the region.
Jess riding in the Lauder Common Riding 2025.
Academic Journey and Career Beginnings
Jess studied Applied Animal Science at SRUC, where she particularly enjoyed hands-on lab work. During her studies, she visited the St Boswells centre and was fascinated by the work of the Veterinary Investigation Officers (VIOs) and PMSOs. A timely job opportunity aligned perfectly with the end of her course, and she joined the team shortly after.
Life at the Centre
In her role, Jess supports VIOs with post mortems, sample processing, and is currently learning about faecal worm egg counts. She thrives on the investigative nature of the work—solving the puzzle of disease and determining causes of death. In just a few months, she’s encountered a variety of conditions including pneumonia, parasitic infections, and other diseases. One of her highlights has been learning to identify Pulpy Kidney (a clostridial disease) particularly the cerebellar coning which is often seen with this disease, during post mortem examination.
Looking Ahead
Jess plans to attend SRUC’s new School of Veterinary Medicine and Bioscience in 2026. She believes her experience as a PMSO will be invaluable in her veterinary studies, having gained deep insights into disease, anatomy, and—most importantly—a strong stomach!
Her goal is to work in mixed rural practice in Scotland, aligning with SRUC’s mission to support veterinary services in remote and rural areas. This mission was recognised with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the institution’s contribution to animal welfare, veterinary science, education, research, and the economy through its world-class Veterinary Services network in 2024.
We’re confident that Jess’s dedication, curiosity, and hands-on experience will pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career in the veterinary field.
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 29/08/2025
