• Question: how did you stumble into your scientific career?

    Asked by anon-236374 to Lucy, Greg, Emma on 16 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Lucy Kelly

      Lucy Kelly answered on 16 Mar 2020:

      I think I came to science with less of a stumble and more of a decision. I decided to study Biology and Chemistry at A-levels and found an infectious diseases module in biology classes so interesting I decided to follow with microbiology at university. I chose to do a master’s degree so I could get into a PhD and get into scientific research!

    • Photo: Greg Heikel

      Greg Heikel answered on 16 Mar 2020:

      I had mostly decided that I wanted to do something related to science by the time I was 16 so I did biology, chemistry and maths for A-level, followed by going to university to study molecular biology. I wasn’t really sure what exactly I wanted to do at this point, I wanted to stay in science but I wasn’t sure in what area. I found a PhD that looked interesting so I did that which gave me more time to think about where I wanted my career to go in the long run. I came across the NHS Scientist Training Programme and it really appealed to me so I applied and here I am now!

    • Photo: Emma Hayhurst

      Emma Hayhurst answered on 16 Mar 2020:

      I definitely stumbled into my career. I never really loved science at school. I swapped to a microbiology degree from zoology because of one lecturer who made me realise how fascinating microbes are. I then did a PhD because I was interested, not really because I knew what i wanted to do with it. I stayed on in the same lab doing research for a couple of years afterwards. I knew I wanted to do applied research, and teach, and one friday afternoon I was helping my friend look for jobs and I found the one I have now. So I applied, just to see and because I fancied an adventure. Got the job and have now been here eleven years and have set up a research group on antibiotic resistance.

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