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My Main Tasks
As a scientist working in academia you have to be motivated and passionate about what you do. Unless you have a very hands on supervisor, most of the time you are deciding what you do every day. No one will be on your back giving you deadlines or things to do. Therefore one of the main skills you need is an ability to work alone and motivate yourself. There are so many other skills though, which can be learned along the way such as the ability to write scientifically, think about new scientific ideas, communicate your results effectively to those who aren’t in the area etc
What I Like
Two things:
1. The excitement of finding out new things about our bodies and the world we live in. Personally, I will always want to work in an area that is making a difference to the world. That is why science is so exciting. I believe that scientists have the most important jobs in the world. Scientist discover new medicines, create new technology for machines, find new ways to preserve the environment around us. Every part of our day-to-day lives is impacted by science and I love being part of these new discoveries. I believe that too much focus these days is placed on money and financial power. When really it is not money that makes the world go round, science makes the world go round!
2. The independence. I am my own boss and can decide what to do. This is the beauty of science. By reading about other scientists research or simply thinking about the world around me and what interests me, I can create my own job in science. This started out when I was doing my leaving cert. I asked myself what I was interested in. The answer was food. And I have built a career studying food and everything that interests me about food since then! This flexibility and independence has also allowed me to travel the world. I have applied for grants to work in Australia, USA and now the UK, Canada, Zimbabwe and Zambia! And that doesn’t include various conferences in Portugal, South Africa, Luxemburg etc. Science is now very much a globally connected field. All of the most important research is happening through collaborations between countries on all corners of the globe.
Challenges
Starting off in academia can be quite lonely, depending on your lab environment. I have worked in really supportive labs and really individualistic labs and this can be tough especially at the start of your career. Unlike other careers, a lot of the time you will not be told what you are supposed to do. You have to go out and ask for help and advice. This can be tough and make academia lonely place, but if you can get past it, it will give you great skills for the future.
Who Influenced Me
My parents were a huge influence on a my career direction. Firstly my dad. He is a scientist himself and is extremely passionate about what he does. To see someone who is genuinely excited about what they do is extremely infectious. And that excitement is something you don’t see in people who work in other fields. Secondly, my mum. She is the best cook in the world and of course influenced my love of food and nutrition!
Work/Life Balance
Very much so. As I’ve mentioned before, the beauty of academia is the independence. For me, I have never been given a set amount of holiday days or working hours. When I work is up to me. This can be both good and bad, depending on your personality and how busy you are. There are times in my career when I have been able to take 3 weeks off in a row and other times when I have been working 7 days a week in the lab for 12 hours a day. But the beauty is, that it is up to you. I play lots of sports and do lots of other activities outside of work, my job has never stopped me doing these things. In terms of job security, that is on negative of academia. After doing a PhD, most postdoctoral jobs are only 2-3 years maximum. And moving on to become a senior researcher or professor is extremely competitive. But if you are determined you can guide your own career path. You don’t have to apply for specific jobs. For example, in my current position, I designed the research I wanted to do, then applied for money to pay me to do it. Although it was a very competitive process, I was lucky and got it. Therefore there are ways to guide your own career path, outside the traditional routes.
Most Useful Aspects of my Education
Again the independence is very important. The first year of my PhD was very tough, and I very nearly quit! I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do and wasn’t used to not having day-to-day support. But, as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I found out that I had to go and ask for help rather than waiting to receive it. This has been one of the most important lessons I have learned. These days I have no problems asking for help, bringing up any issues I have or even emailing strangers asking for jobs!
Useful Work Experience
Working in a lab is great work experience to see what it is like. Scientists are usually delighted to show people around who are doing work experience and help them get their hands dirty. If you don’t know any scientists, just google a University and subject your are interested in and you will find someone who is doing that work. Don’t be afraid to just email them and ask can you go in for a week or two to see what it’s like!
