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  • 1.  What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 02-05-2024 11:07
    Edited by Hannah McCarthy 02-05-2024 11:08

    Hi everyone,

    I'm thrilled to initiate discussions in this forum by introducing myself. I'm Hannah McCarthy, and many of you may recognise my name from the numerous communications I've sent while overseeing the deployment of this space and our new website. Now that it's nearing completion, I'm eager to shift my focus to our education initiatives in my role as National Education & Outreach Coordinator.

    Our membership represents a wide array of backgrounds, which leads me to pose a question:

    "What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences? Was there a pivotal moment that shaped your path?"

    I'm excited to engage with all of you in this forum. Please don't hesitate to connect with me directly by sending a message or emailing education1@raci.org.au if you need assistance.

    Warm regards,

    Hannah



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    Hannah McCarthy
    Education & Outreach Coordinator (National)
    The Royal Australian Chemical Institute
    Email: education1@raci.org.au
    Phone: (03) 9328 2033
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  • 2.  RE: What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 02-05-2024 14:25
    Edited by Daniel Turner 16-05-2024 00:42

    Hi Hannah,

    Excellent work and congratulations on this latest RACI endeavour coming to fruition.

    After completing my PhD at the University of Leicester in 2001, I had decided that I didn't want to stay in academic research and that I needed a break from the laboratory-turns out on the former was actually true. Chemistry has always been the discipline within STEM that has appealed to me the most and I was quickly drawn back into the commercial side of the science in my first real-world job as an Analytical Chemist with an environmental testing laboratory.

    Interestingly, in order to receive an income allowance for being unemployed following my PhD, it was part of the UK's program for job seekers that saw me get this first job. I attended the laboratory with an invite to participate in an entry-level program to undertake sample preparation, which would have seen me subsampling soil and water samples for analysis, and the person showing me around quickly realised that I would be wasted there. The self-sufficient research skills honed from my PhD meant that I was introduced to the chromatography team and quickly became involved in method development, which also saw me being exposed to ISO 17025 in maintaining quality of results. This chance encounter was a pivotal one for me.

    My subsequent jobs were all related to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and secured me a job in Singapore with the well-known manufacture of analytical instruments: Agilent Technologies. I worked in Singapore for four years and then, due to my family's circumstances, we opted to come to Australia in 2008. I switched from providing expert technical advice on chromatography-related products to technical writing. After an acquisition, which could have seen my role made redundant, I took a jump to a sales position and quickly to another-learning the hard way that I am more focused on helping clients get the results they need than meeting sales targets.

    Opting to take a while to gather myself together, I was fortunate enough to see and apply for a position with the National Association of Testing Authorities that would involve coordinating audits of laboratories against the previously mentioned ISO 17025 standard. It is at this point I left being involved with chemistry directly, as I was engaged to audit calibration laboratories that are primarily providing metrological traceability for dimensional, pressure, force, and electrical measurements in Australia. This was an awesome job. Unfortunately, as it involved lots of interstate travel, I found it to not quite meet my family's need for work-life balance.

    I now work in specialist recruitment, as the Principal STEM Recruiter for CS Executive Group-the CS stands for ChemSkill, which many RACI members in Victoria will be far more familiar with-and I now help to find scientists (especially chemists) jobs that our clients have assigned us to assist them recruiting for. My broad depth of knowledge of science and hands-on experience with chromatography definitely assist me in identifying individuals with relevant skills and experience.

    Kindest regards,
    Dan

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    Daniel Turner PhD MRACI CChem MNZIC
    linkedin.com/in/ddturnerphd
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  • 3.  RE: What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 02-05-2024 18:07

    Hi Hannah,

    You've done an amazing job leading the new website project and it looks fantastic!

    Good question you've asked - For me, I was always interested in science growing up. I'm from Canada and our BSc is a 4 year program where the first year is general sciences before choosing your major. Of all the sciences, Chemistry was the one that I liked the most and just clicked in my brain. After finishing my BSc, I had the opportunity to continue with a MSc in a research group that was focused on the exciting area of Hydrogen Storage. 

    Due to family circumstances, I lived in several different countries after my degree completion and found work outside of chemistry. I came to realise that I really enjoyed interacting with people and didn't want to work in a laboratory setting. When I arrived in Australia 9 years ago, I stumbled across an opportunity in Scientific recruitment that allowed me to combine my love of science with a role that revolved around people. I haven't looked back.

    I like to stay connected with my Chemistry roots and became involved with the RACI several years ago. What started with participating in careers development events, led to a more active role on the WA Branch Committee and eventual WA Branch President. In March of this year I joined the Board as an Appointed Director where I hope to add value to the Chemistry community, playing to my strengths in career development, mentoring and external relationships.

    That's the cliff notes of my chemical story. Looking forward to hearing from others!

    Thanks,

    Keelie



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    Keelie Munroe
    National Division Manager- Life Sciences
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 04-05-2024 10:22

    Thanks Hannah. You've done a great job bringing this all together and should be proud of seeing this realised.

    My story starts with what was a life changing event. You see, I had always wanted to be a doctor since I could talk (so my parents tell me). I was always interested in science and what made the world work. I was on track for getting into Medicine, but my first bout of clinical depression descended upon me about 3 months before my HSC exams, which in those days was a one shot exercise in a formal exam, with no contributions to your mark from any previous assessments. I did poorly (but still managed to get into the top 10% in chemistry) and so that first attempt at my long desired career failed. So I got into a Science degree and started working in a pathology lab to pay my way through uni.

    When it came to uni, I found I didn't enjoy biology as much as I thought I would, but loved chemistry, so it was natural for me to major in Chem. I even took my chemistry problem solving skills into the micro department where I was working to find a solution to a persistent problem with a method that was supposed to identify the use of aspirin by microbiology (yep, I know, that was a weird technique to approach that analysis and it's no wonder it didn't work so well🥴). The solution of course was to use the GC in the neighbouring department......

    I left the world of the bench when I moved to Sydney and started a job at NATA. I worked in Chem and one of the most amazing days for me was when I saw an actual ICP in a lab we were assessing. Thus far, I had only been told about them and our Chem department at Newcastle didn't have one. It was a thrill to be in the world of analytical chemistry, and learning more about quality of analytical measurements. 

    These days, I get to see and analyse data from lots of labs and help labs to make better quality measurements. I don't actually get my hands dirty - as an eminent Analytical Chemistry Professor once said, I have people to do that. But I found I've still got it when a few years ago a client got me in to write their method for some UV-vis work that meant I had to do everything from preparing the standards to calibrating the instrument and performing some tests. I was happy and relieved to see I'd not lost my skills.

    I'd love to hear others' journey.

    Maree



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    Maree Stuart
    Principal Consultant
    MAS Management Systems Pty Ltd
    maree@masmanagementsystems.com.au
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 05-05-2024 20:08

    I didn't think much of chemistry...until I studied the periodic table in depth in Year 8! I got so fascinated by it that I spent many nights just trying to remember all the names and atomic masses, doing so by middle of Year 9. I found chemistry to suit my learning style the most and also appreciated how chemistry is everyone in our lives. I also saw how chemistry could lead to a wide range of interesting careers, and had a strong interest in working in a lab. 

    I did try getting into a wide range of fields after graduating from uni, but I happen to find myself in a lab...



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    William Li
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: What inspired you to pursue a career in the Chemical Sciences?

    Posted 06-05-2024 10:45

    Hi Hannah, 

    Congratulations on the new website. - Well done!

    Mine is not a typical path to chemical science. In my case, chemistry chose ME!!  

    Firstly, I am NOT a chemist (although my knowledge of chemistry is improving). If I had done a science after year 10, then it probably would have been biology (although I have a significant aversion to carving up mice, frogs and other little creatures). I am an Occupational Health and Safety Consultant. 

    Around ten years ago, I started managing health and safety in universities and medical research institutes. This work mainly involved laboratory safety and chemical management. Apart from trying to "save scientists from themselves", I found the work interesting and challenging as balancing regulatory requirements with the needs of science and research. Wanting to know more, I undertook a 3-day course in Safety in Laboratories. At that point, I suddenly realised that not having a chemistry degree disadvantaged me. Thus, I began my quest to learn more about chemistry and chemicals. That journey eventually saw me teaching laboratory safety and chemical management to university students, laboratory technicians and industry professionals. The more I became involved in laboratory safety, it was only going to be a matter of time before I was 'lured' into the world of Australian Standards, and in particular, the AS/NZS 2243 Safety in Laboratories series of standards and AS/NZS 2982 Laboratory Design and Construction. 

    These days, I sit on several Standards Australia Technical Committees, including CH-026 Safety in Laboratories. I also run a small OHS Consultancy specialising in chemical management and laboratory safety. In the next three years, the crowning glory before I hang up my safety boots and lab coat will be completing my PhD, looking at the accuracy of safety data sheets and their impact on chemical risk assessments!

    If I had my time over again, knowing what I know now, have studies chemistry...  not sure, but it is a pity chemistry is no longer taught in OHS degrees and that OHS is not taught in Chemistry/science  degrees - because they are such a natural fit.

    The road to chemical science are many and varied the most important thing is the journey.

    Cheers

    Lisa 



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    Lisa Stevens
    Principal OHS Consultant
    Lisa J Stevens And Associates
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    Original Message


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