Postdoctoral Researcher

Salary

£30,000

What is it that you do?

Carry out chemistry and cell biology research towards the target of new therapeutic compounds or diagnostic probes.

What does your day-to-day job involve?

Carrying out cell biology and molecular biology experiments to investigate the biological activity and anti-cancer properties of newly synthesised compounds.

How long have you been working in the industry?

2 years post-PhD.

What qualifications do you have?

MChem degree, Chemistry/Cell Biology PhD.

How did you get into this role?

Applying for a fellowship to build upon PhD research and increase impact/publications.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Seeing final published journal articles, which add to the field of developing new anti-cancer drugs. And winning a C&EN image competition for some really nice microscopy work which I had worked hard to add to my skill set.

What do you like most about your job?

Flexibility in the working day and fair degree of freedom in the research conducted

Anything you particularly dislike?

The freedom can be a disadvantage, if you are a hard worker, as it can often result in 12 hour days or weekend visits to the lab when things need to be done.

What qualities do you believe you need to succeed in this job?

An enjoyment of bench work and controlling your own experimental plan, perseverance, and the ability to deal with rejection and not take it personally (grants, publications etc).

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into your industry?

Learn as many new skills from other people as possible.

Finally, what is the strangest thing you have ever had to do in your working life?

At some point I have been in the lab during every hour of the day and night.