• Question: Why did you choose to do this job

    Asked by runs490tar on 30 Jun 2023. This question was also asked by rate490tar, Ciaran and Louie, gave490rat, than490eta, crew490pay, georgesuth81, them490abs, MollyP, date490fan, busy490ugh.
    • Photo: Hannah Scholes

      Hannah Scholes answered on 30 Jun 2023:

      I first decided to be a scientist because I loved the sciences at school; especially biology. I really enjoyed learning about animals and the human body. Plants, not so much.
      I always wanted to help people and animals, and thought about being a vet at first!
      I studied biological science at university, learning even more about animals and the human body and found a job for a company inventing different blood tests which worked in a similar way to the covid tests you might recognise, before the company closed down. They decided they were more interested in making medicines than blood tests, and so closed down the part of the company I was working in.
      After that I needed a new job, and I knew that I still wanted to be in science and helping people, so I found myself working in the NHS!

      I’ve had a couple of jobs in the hospital labs, checking samples and loading them onto the machines, and I could see what the biomedical scientists were doing and thought that it looked interesting. I contacted the Institute of Biomedical Science, the people who make sure biomedical scientists know what they need to for the job, and they checked my degree to see if I’d learnt what I needed to. They decided I needed to do a little bit more work, and I was able to do some top-up modules online while I was working. I had a year of eat-sleep-work-study but it paid off when I passed!

      I’m now a Biomedical Scientist, almost by accident I suppose, and I absolutely love it!

    • Photo: Chigozie Onuba

      Chigozie Onuba answered on 30 Jun 2023:

      I decided to be a scientist because I like finding out why people are feeling unwell and if their treatment is working. I did well in science subjects at school so it was a natural fit for me to become a scientist

    • Photo: Blair Johnston

      Blair Johnston answered on 1 Jul 2023:

      I chose to do the subjects I enjoyed most and was best at when I went to University (Maths and Physics). I had no idea what I wanted to do after that so I was always looking for opportunities to explore different career paths. I really enjoyed particle physics so I applied for a summer placement at Fermilab (a smaller version of CERN) in Chicago and got it! I loved my time out there but I discovered that a career in particle physics wasn’t for me (which is great to discover before starting!). When I was there I went to a talk about neutron and proton therapy and discovered that there is a career path for physicists in healthcare and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I applied to the training scheme straight off of university but didn’t get a place (it is very competitive). I got my PhD in a related area and gained more experience and reapplied 5 years later and got accepted and I’ve never looked back

    • Photo: Bruno Silvester Lopes

      Bruno Silvester Lopes answered on 1 Jul 2023:

      To provide solutions to global challenges, to tackle disease and help everyone. My work has direct impact on people that are suffering from deadly infections and I am proud to say that it has helped in saving lives of lots of people around the world especially in countries that lack a lot of resources. Thank you

    • Photo: Cheryl Williams

      Cheryl Williams answered on 2 Jul 2023:

      I wanted to work in healthcare but I knew I didn’t want to be a doctor or nurse, as I’m not very good with ill people and have a terrible bedside manner 🙂
      I have had an interest in science since school, particularly in how the body fights infection, so I studied microbiology at university. I found out about this career at uni and decided it was the right one for me. I find it immensely rewarding to know that I am making a difference to patient’s lives and play a part in their diagnosis.

    • Photo: Simon Anderson

      Simon Anderson answered on 2 Jul 2023:

      I got into cardiac physiology but I saw that it offered me exactly what I wanted. Having done a degree in medical science where I was fascinated by the cardiovascular modules I came to realise I wanted to do something that involved science but also involved people.

      Helpfully whilst undertaking some voluntary work experience in a lab between university semesters I was fortunate enough to come in contact with someone who used to be a cardiac physiologist but was currently out of the field. Having talked with them I did what I would recommend to anyone, irrespective of what you think you’re interested in, got some work experience directly in the field. This solidified what an interesting career, with a range of various opportunities, cardiac physiology was.

      To this day cardiac physiology continues to provide an engaging way to apply science and to help people.

    • Photo: Sophie Shaw

      Sophie Shaw answered on 3 Jul 2023:

      Science is really exciting, but I didn’t want to work in a laboratory setting, therefore working in a computer coding role within science was my dream. I also really wanted to undertake work that makes a real difference to people, and what I do now has clear benefits for patients, which is really exciting.

    • Photo: Kip Heath

      Kip Heath answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      In year 12 I realised that I hated school and didn’t want to go to university. But I also needed a plan for after I finished school. So I phoned a local hospital and asked if they would let me do work experience in their lab.

      After I finished they (posted!) me an application for a degree apprenticeship. I applied, was lucky enough to get a job and I’ve been in the NHS ever since!

    • Photo: Caroline Addey

      Caroline Addey answered on 4 Jul 2023:

      My most recent job- I wanted to work in an organisation where i felt proud to work and support improving public health and patient safety.

    • Photo: Paulo Fernandes

      Paulo Fernandes answered on 11 Jul 2023:

      I first decided to be a scientist because I loved all the sciency stuff, like biology and chemistry. I was a very curious person that always liked to know how things work in detail. I loved those experiments that are done at science fairs, and I was always puzzled on how the experiments would work. I decided:
      1. biology from the first time I saw a cell under the microscope,
      2. microbiology because I was so intrigued about how bacteria and viruses could be so small yet so “smart”,
      3. and then gene therapy to apply all the science I learned in the making of new treatments for people in need.

      Another thing that helped with the decision was that I wasn’t so good at history and literature 🙂

    • Photo: Clare Morrow

      Clare Morrow answered on 11 Jul 2023:

      I enjoyed science at school and looked into different careers that i could do. I found that i could train in the Royal Air Force, and when i left i was able to do the same work in the NHS – hence i am still here 20 years later.

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