• Question: do you enjoy your job?

    Asked by guyhornsey to Mariam, Leo, Jo, Gioia on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by yomanameshope.
    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      Very much so. I can’t imagine a job I could be more proud of, either. Being a scientist is such a worthwhile way to spend your time on earth. And working towards diagnosing cancer, which kills millions of people each year (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/) makes a genuinely positive impact on peoples lives!

      I also have a VERY understanding and amazing supervisor who gives me a lot of freedom in what I research and how I research it. I also like the way science works – having my opinions challenged by logic, reason and evidence.

      I have, over the past few years, become an expert in my small, niche field – and over time I might become an expert in a much wider field. I am learning the tools of the scientific trade and teaching my peers about my findings – which might just help save lives.

      It’s rare to find a job this rewarding – and I am always grinning inside with pride when I tell people that I am a scientist. So, yes, I enjoy my job!

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      Yes, I do enjoy my job. There are some parts of my job that I enjoy more than others though.

      I really like it when I get out of the office to go to meetings and conferences with people from hospitals or other universities. I also like it when I am solving problems and working out the best ways to analyse our data.

      I’m not so keen on writing, I find it really boring and I don’t think I’m very good at it. Unfortunately, as a scientist you usually have to write about what you have done so that other people can find out about it – after all, there’s no point in finding out something new if you keep it to yourself, is there?!

    • Photo: Gioia Cherubini

      Gioia Cherubini answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      I do, even if it never leaves you! For example, you never stop thinking of which experiment will demonstrate your hypothesis, what you can do to improve the results or how you can write the paper with your results so that it is clear enough. In my case, I got few good ideas while having a shower!

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Most of the time, I love my job! It’s interesting and varied, and I feel like I’m at least trying to work towards making the world a slightly better place.

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