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Dr. Robert Hancock |
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November
2004
 Job
title and General Description
Professor of microbiology and immunology at UBC
Director of the UBC Centre for Microbial Diseases Research
Founder of Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
My job is extremely exciting and involves a wide range of
projects. I have been a professor at UBC since the late 1970’s.
My research interests include innate immunity and pathogenomics.
I am currently involved in a joint project called The
Functional Pathogenomics of Mucosal Immunity (FPMI) project.
My studies include antibiotic uptake and resistance, functional
genomics and the development of small cationic peptides as
novel antimicrobials and immune modulators. It is all very
exciting and is on the cutting edge of new discoveries.
What specific skills and qualities are
needed to do your job?
To work in today’s scientific community it is vital
to have excellent communication skills and to be able to work
well with other people both within your own team and outside
of that group. You must be smart, with the ability to think
beyond the information given. It is also important to be an
entrepreneur. You need to take risks to make progress.
What do you like most about your work?
I love that my job is always changing and exciting. We are
working on research that is moving into new frontiers. I work
with many very smart young people. My objective is to have
my trainees do better than myself. As a professor, I have
a lot of freedom. It is like being my own boss.
What don’t you like about your job?
My job is everything I want it to be. I have no complaints.
Where do you see your career going from
here?
I will continue to evolve with the research that I do. I see
myself becoming an immunologist, a genomicist, a systems biologist.
What is the range in salary that comes
with your job?
As I work both within the university and the industry it is
hard to pin point a salary range. A professor’s salary
would be around $100,000 - $150,000 depending on experience
and expertise. Income on the industry side is extremely variable.
When did you know you wanted to work in
sciences?
I have been interested in a career in science since I was
about 12 years old. I became sure of my career path in my
final year of high school when I was inspired by the discovery
of penicillin. I knew at that point that scientific research
would be my focus.
What is your educational background? Degrees?
Specific courses?
I grew up in Adelaide, Australia and I did my PhD in microbiology
at the University of Adelaide. From there I went to the University
of Tubingen in Germany to do my post doc and then on to the
University of California, Berkeley to do research for a year.
I studied bacteriophage receptors while doing my PhD and various
aspects of cell membranes while in Germany and California.
What was your favorite course(s) and why?
My favorite course at school was English. I enjoy literature
and writing and I feel that good skills in written communication
are essential.
What other hobbies and interests do you
have?
Spending time with my family is very important to me. I also
enjoy playing volleyball and umpiring field hockey. Another
hobby that I have is playing the guitar.
Do you have any advice for young people
thinking about getting into your line of work?
The only reason to do science is that you enjoy it. If you’re
not having fun, you’re in the wrong place.
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