Six things I wish I’d known as a young medical researcher

Belinda Wade is the new manager of AusHealth Ventures, the division responsible for funding and administering more than a dozen medical research projects. She started her career as a medical researcher, before moving into roles more focussed on the commercialisation of scientific innovation; she became Business Development Coordinator at Flinders University and more recently, General Manager of The Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre.

Here are six pieces of advice she’d like to give to young Belinda, hard at work in a busy research lab…

1. Don’t get trapped in your science silo!

Just because you’re focused on a particular scientific discipline doesn’t mean your skills aren’t transferrable. Recognise the value of your critical thinking and analytical skills – you’ll be amazed how they can take you into fields you’ve never considered.

2. You don’t have to be a scientist to indulge your love of science!

You don’t have to wear a lab-coat to surround yourself with the thrill of scientific research. Scientific endeavour is being encouraged by all kinds of professionals, including marketers, lawyers, financiers and business administrators. Be open to opportunities, be willing to change, and don’t be afraid to explore different career paths.

3. Not all answers are found in the lab…

Build relationships everywhere – and not just in your professional field. If I had my time again, I would travel more, meet more people and broaden my horizons. Ultimately, you’re enhancing your personal and professional development. And truth is, you never know when and where the solution to that knotty science problem is going to reveal itself: it might be when you’re looking down a microscope – and it might be when you’re drinking a pina colada on Ipanema Beach!

4. Don’t be intimidated by academic status

Speak up, challenge research ideas and believe in your own insights. Science makes advances when people think creatively and aren’t afraid to question established thinking. Speak up, challenge ideas and contribute your thoughts, even when you’re working with experts in the field. And while we’re at it, a PhD isn’t essential to be valuable in the scientific space!

5. Never underestimate the worth of working in industry

There’s nothing like commercial research to show you the realities of turning ideas into marketable products. Believe me, researchers with proper commercial perspectives – people who can effectively bridge the gap between pure science and practical, market-driven innovation – are hot property.

6. Be kind, show some grace and pay it forward

We work in some pretty competitive fields. So whatever space you’re in, it pays to be thoughtful and respectful. The world will thank you for it.