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May
2006
 Job
title and general description
My job title is:
Senior Research Associate at the W.
Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, UBC.
I am involved in
ethics and social research, teaching ‘Genetics and Ethics’,
and various activities in the academic community including
working with scholars in Science and Technology Studies (STS).
My research involves various aspects of the relationship between
science, society and the business world. I focus much of my
work on university-based biotechnology. One of my latest projects
takes a look at social and ethical issues around how new discoveries
and innovations are translated into industrial applications.
I look at the relationships between the various stakeholders
and parties involved. This includes government, private sector
groups, academics communities and the general public.
My job involves reading currently available information, discussions
with members of the various groups involved, writing up publications
and grant proposals, as well as collaborating with colleagues
in fields of ethics, STS, genomics and industry.
I have recently
published a book with the University of Toronto Press that
covers my PhD work. It is entitled, ‘Public Science,
Private Interests, Culture and Commerce in Canada’s
Networks of Centres of Excellence’
What
specific skills and qualities are needed to do your job?
My job requires
me to be very self-disciplined and self-directed. I need to
be able to look at the project at hand and establish what
steps need to be taken to gather and review the relevant information.
I must work independently and be able to guide the work of
others. The ability to acquire new information and incorporate
it into your work is essential. Learning is a self-directed
process.
What
do you like most about your work?
I love that I can
‘scratch an intellectual itch’. I enjoy being
able to pursue my curiosities while making a contribution
to society by contributing to the advancement of knowledge.
What
don’t you like about your job?
I am not fond of
the politics and bureaucracy. Navigating a large hierarchical
institution (the university) can be very challenging and frustrating.
Where
do you see your career going from here?
I intend to move
ahead with my research and writing. For me this is not a starting
point in my life. I have had an earlier career in finance
and administration. Now I have established myself in the fields
of social and ethical research and I’m really enjoying
it. This is where I plan to be for some time. I do plan to
move ahead into a ‘non-tenured’ faculty position.
What
is the range in salary that comes with your job?
There is a wide
range of stages to go through in this career path. As a Doctoral
student one can make around $36,000. As a Post-Doc the salary
moves up to about $45,000. A junior-level professor will make
around $60,000 but the range goes up as high as $140-150,000
with some very specialized professors making over $200,000.
With many ‘baby boomers’ preparing to retire over
the next decade there will be more opportunities coming up
for young professors.
When
did you know you wanted to be involved in sciences?
I have always had
an interest in policy issues and the impact science policy
decisions have on society. My interest in the broader social,
ethical, and economic aspects of science and technology was
with me long before I started my PhD.
What
is your educational background? Degrees? Specific courses?
The traditional
way to move into a career in ethics is through a background
in philosophy. With the new developments in research under
the GE3LS umbrella (Genomics: Ethics, Environment, Economics,
Law and Society) a much broader group of perspectives are
being brought to bear in examining contentious issues. My
professional background is in finance and administration.
I have worked with large institutions such as hospitals and
the Vancouver Aquarium as well as in accounting practices.
I went back to school in 1993, the same year my first grandchild
was born, to pursue my interest in science related policies
and the public interest. I did my interdisciplinary PhD at
UBC in Science and Technology Studies and Science Policy;
my postdoctoral training is in applied ethics.
What
was your favorite course(s) and why?
I really enjoyed
the courses I took on the history and sociology of science.
I am very interested in topics from the scientific revolution
right through to the evolution of genomics. There are many
topics that fit well within my academic interests.
What
other hobbies and interests do you have?
I am involved in
pole trekking. On weekends I often hike 15-20 km a day. During
the week I try to average 10 km per day. I love the outdoors
and messing about in the garden. I used to do a lot of ‘creative
writing’ and I hope to get back into it one of these
days.
Do
you have any advice for young people thinking about getting
into your line of work?
Don’t assume
that the path you start with will be where you end up. Don’t
specialize too soon. Be curious and look at a broad range
of choices. Follow your curiosity and try things that interest
you. Always remember that no education is a waste. Even if
you change your path later, the experiences and the things
you have learned will add to what you have to work with. Get
a good, broad education and travel to experience new things.
Include community service in your experience such as groups
like CUSO that can give you a whole new perspective on life.
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