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January
2005
 Job
title and General Description
Post Doctoral Fellow at the Canada’s Michael Smith Genome
Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC. I conduct
research in the Programmed Cell Death laboratory. The lab’s
main interest is studying how cells die (from within) and
how this programmed cell death can be exploited as a tool
for treating cancer.
What
specific skills and qualities are needed to do your job?
I am expected to be well versed and up-to-date in recent scientific
literature covering my area of interest. I am also expected
to very familiar with the techniques being employed in my
research and at the same time, be willing to learn and deploy
the latest methodologies. Last but not least, one of the most
critical aspects of being a post-doctoral trainee is to learn
how to work independently and yet at the same time develop
scientific collaboration to further one’s research objectives
and broaden personal perspective.
Since my work is to characterize different kinds of Programmed
cell death in different cancer cell models (known as cell
lines) at the molecular level, I am well versed in the majority
of molecular biology and tissue culture techniques. In addition,
I am familiar with analyzing large biological data sets.
What do you like most about your work?
The chance to make a tiny bit of contribution in our collective
battle to change cancer from being a terminal illness to a
chronic condition.
What don’t you like about your job?
I wish it would pay a bit more!
Where do you see your career going from
here?
To establish my self in the field of genomics and proteomics
and adopt a systems biology approach to elucidate function
of clinically important genes, networks and to also investigate
these genes in an evolutionary perspective.
What is the range in salary that comes
with your job?
Startup (0-2 yr) Post-doc salary ranges from $35,000 to $40,000
depending mainly on the host institution and the granting
agency. For 2 yr and beyond, it’s $45,000 to $50,000 again
depending on the host institution and the granting agency.
When did you know you wanted to work
in sciences?
Coming from a developing country, I guess it’s hard
to put this question in perspective, mainly because science
is not viewed as a promising career. Having said that, since
I was always very inquisitive and was always interested in
“Why” rather than accepting what I was told. So
by the time I was in the 2nd year of my undergraduate degree,
it was evident that a career in sciences would satisfy my
curiosity.
What is your educational background? Degrees?
Specific courses?
Msc in Genetics, The Department of Genetics, University of
Karachi.
Ph.D. (Zoology), Thesis entitled ‘ Thyroid Hormone and
Environmental Stress Stimulate changes in Expression of the
Polymorphic Polyubiquitin Genes in the Muscles of Amphibian
Tadpoles”, Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology,
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), London, Ontario,
Canada.
What was your favorite course(s) and
why?
Evolution, Population genetics and Molecular systematics.
Mainly because these courses introduced me to the philosophical
aspects and controversies of biology and at the same time
gave me the perspective to undertake a more global and in
silico approach to biology.
What other hobbies and interests do you
have?
Reading about history and politics, photography, assembling
personal computers, building small intranets, computer games,
digital darkroom manipulations, biking, hiking and swimming.
Do you have any advice for young
people thinking about getting into your line of work?
Always be willing to learn and recognize the importance of
constructive criticism and sound advice. Choosing sciences
as a career can be very satisfying and rewarding, especially
for those who always ask questions and want to lead the way
in new technologies.
It’s very important that the young people out there
recognize the importance of investing in research and development
especially in biology in general and genomics in particular.
It has been proposed by some very smart people that the 21st
century belongs to biology, and the impact of research in
genomics and related areas will transform not only medicine
but also every facet of life. In fact, according to some,
we have already started the transition from an industrial/information
based economy to a biology based economy. In essence this
is the future and Canada’s younger generation should
be well prepared to lead the way and undertake any challenges,
which this exciting and emerging field brings. View All Scientists
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