• Question: how did you find your job at first?

    Asked by u12woodburnj to Susan, Rachel, Lou on 8 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by portuguesetrish.
    • Photo: Susan Skelton

      Susan Skelton answered on 8 Nov 2013:

      I’ve always loved my job!

      Luckily all of my jobs have gradually built on my experience, so it wasn’t too hard when I first started a new job. For example, I started doing research when I was studying at university, and since then have gradually built up to harder projects and working more independently. But if I struggle with something, there are always other scientists who are happy to give their advice.

      As with any new job you get a buzz meeting new people and diving into new projects. Every time I start a new job, I have to read and learn about the new topic I will work on. I really enjoy this as it’s so exciting!!

      Moving to Japan for my job here was especially exciting, as well as a bit scary – as well as the new topic, I had to get used to different food in the canteen (raw fish, anyone?!), time zone, cultural differences and language – although luckily most scientists anywhere in the world speak english.

    • Photo: Louise Brown

      Louise Brown answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      I went to do my PhD straight after my undergraduate degree at university. In my undergraduate degree we were always told when to be in the lab and what experiments to do. When I started my PhD, I could pick and choose when I went in the lab and what experiments I did! It was very scary at first but I have got used to it now I am nearly finished!

      I like the freedom of being in a lab doing research, and all the different people I get to work with, from students and school children to old professors!

    • Photo: Rachel Dakin

      Rachel Dakin answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      In My current job i am known as a ‘post-doc’ this simply means I’m a scientist that has a PhD. This is my first job where I am not officially a student but tone honest for the first few months I felt like I was still one! Like anything new there was so much to learn (and still is!). I also didn’t know where anything was kept or who anyone was, it’s a bit like going to a new school I guess! So parts were a bit tricky. It was also exciting as I really like learning new science and new things. I hadn’t worked with viruses much before so I got to learn all about them and how to make them. Seeing cells change shape because the virus I made has infected them is pretty cool!!
      I’ve now been in my job over a year so I know what I’m doing (some of the time) and more importantly I know people to ask when I don’t!! I’ve also got some cool friends at work 🙂

Comments