Senior investigator (biology)

By MARK STORY

Name: Dr Lisa Williams

Job title: Senior investigator (biology)

Working hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and a few hours most weekends

Employer: Virionyx Corporation; universities, Crown agencies and other biotech and pharmaceutical companies

Age: 35


Pay: Universities and Crown agencies typically don't pay as well as the commercial world. A raw PhD entering a biotech or pharmaceutical company can expect to start on around $55,000 and progress to $160,000 or beyond based on performance.

Qualifications needed: A BSc is a minimum. Those wanting a leg-up to lab head - someone who sets up new experiments - are likely to have a doctorate. After doing a BSc honours degree at Massey University, I did a PhD at the Christchurch School of Medicine, and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Oxford University.

Career prospects: Lecturing or research within the universities or crown agencies. Alternatively, research scientist roles in the pharmaceutical industry.

Q. What do you do?

A. I do cell research that triggers an immune response. This revolves around conducting bioassays - a test procedure that takes around 10 days for products in clinical trials.

I'm currently testing what impact a potential new drug for HIV therapy - in phase 1 clinical trials in the United States - has on certain viruses. This means taking human blood cells, infecting them with the virus and seeing if the drug can kill it.

I'm also involved in liaising with clinical trials personnel in Australia and the US, strategic planning for scientific projects countrywide, managing collaborative projects, presenting data at conferences and preparing reports that summarise key data.

Q. Why did you choose this line of work?

A. It stemmed from being good at biology at high school. After doing my postdoctoral work I was curious to find out what being a research scientist would be like.

Q. What skills do you need to be a research scientist?

A. You've got to have a passion for biology. Deft technical ability is equally important, as is strong self-motivation, good time-management and the drive to stay focused.

As it can take 10 years to commercially bring a drug to market, it's important to approach research science as a vocation. And as workflow is dictated by the experiments you're running, it's important to be flexible over working hours.

Q. Best part of the job?

A. It's satisfying to get good scientific research results. I like the freedom to manage my own time and be creatively energetic. I enjoy teaching junior members of the lab - and watching their skills develop.

Q. Most challenging/difficult part of the job?

A. Managing frustration, especially if you spend months on a project and get nothing out if it. Funding is a perennial problem.

Q. What sort of training do you get?

A. Training can be hit and miss, depending on your supervisors. You'll reach a point during your doctorate when you'll have to start training yourself. At Virionyx I got some training in setting up techniques, safety and how a virus behaves - but owing to my previous experience it was minimal.

Q. How do you see you career progressing from here?

A. I'm unsure what direction my career will take. As an experienced research scientist I always have the opportunity to apply for my own grant funding with a view to collaborative research.

But I'm more likely to steer away from the hands-on lab stuff and move into strategic management.

In addition to moving into sales or management, other options available to me could include going into patent law, management consulting or even merchant banking - helping with due diligence on biotechnology company acquisitions.

As most opportunities for postdoctoral work tend to be in the US and Europe, further overseas travel is always an option.