CAREERS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

Transcription

1 CAREERS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE 19 May 2010 CAREERS CENTRE I SciSoc VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE WELCOME Barbara Mackie Career Development Officer, Careers Centre Sophie Liang, Chao Wang, Andrew Ling SciSoc representatives

2 INTRODUCTIONS Cath Suter Head of Epigenetics Laboratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Sally Dunwoodie Head of the Embryology Laboratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Anna Dear PR and Communications Officer, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute PROGRAM 1:05 1:10 1:15 1:35 2:00 Welcome and Introductions About the Careers Centre Announcement by Steven Meikle Professor of Medical Imaging Physics Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Health Science Panel of Speakers from Victor Change Cardiac Research Institute About the Victor Change Cardiac Research Unit Personal Career Pathways Types of Research Careers in Biomedical Sciences Q & A from audience Close of event 4

3 CAREERS CENTRE FREE SERVICES Extensive Jobs Database: subscribe to Job Alert Careers Fairs Career Workshops ( Resume Rescue 4 x per week) Employer Information Sessions on campus Information about Graduate Programs Careers Resource Centre (Monday Friday: 9 am to 5 pm) Individual consultations with Career Development Officers sydney.edu.au/careers Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building 5 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP Free or discounted student membership Code of ethics, policy and advocacy Conferences on topical issues providing local and international perspectives Research on areas of practice, quality and innovation Interest or focus groups specialising in specific areas of the industry Regular journals, newsletters and other publications (may be able to subscribe) Access to current salary surveys and advice on workplace agreements Events providing professional development and ongoing learning Mentoring schemes, career advice and industry information Job vacancy listings specific to the industry Scholarships, awards and prizes / Assessment of overseas qualifications 6

4 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS The Australian Institute of Medical Scientists Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Australian Biotechnology Association Institute of Biomedical Science (UK) Royal Australian Chemical Institute Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia 7 RECOMMENDED RESOURCES ($) (free) 8

5 DIRECTORY OF ORGANISATIONS 9 JOB BOARDS Tech Staff Scientific and Technical Recruitment (Australia) Your World Medical Recruitment Biomedical Science Vacancies in Medical Recruitment (Australia and NZ) Science Alert Job Vacancies (Australia and NZ) Job is Job Biomedical (Australia) Kelly Scientific Resources Science People Others? Don t be limited by this list 10

6 SYDNEY TALENT SydneyTalent connects students with opportunities for paid employment and work-related development. A diverse range of course-related employment options Enhance your work place skills through learning and development programs. All registered students have access to the WorkReady Essentials Workshops Available to all students Flexible working hours sydney.edu.au/sydneytalent BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE Biomedical Science is any area of study that investigates the relationship between humans, health and disease. It is a wide-reaching area of scientific research that includes the study of human genetics, immunology, biological and medicinal chemistry, physiology and environmental health. Biomedical science may be viewed as three interrelated areas of specialisation: Human Genetics Molecular Pathology Molecular Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry New Frontiers Bioinformatics and Ethics Source: Biomedical Science article, Career View, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ. Sept Available to download at Career Profiles 12

7 GRADUATE OPPORTUNTIES Where do graduates gain work? Research in human genetics Genetic counselling or management Human fertility and ageing Clinical biochemistry Immunology Molecular pathology Pharmaceutical industry Public and Environmental health Lab Manager You could also consider: Patents and intellectual property Work with a regulatory authority Policy development and implementation Teaching Medicine Specialist libraries Science journalism and editing General management General science Research organisations Hospitals Universities Sales, marketing, administration and business sides of organisations that manufacture and sell the products of scientific research Note: postgraduate qualifications are essential for most roles 13 DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS Research a range of potential employers and research organisations and determine the requirements. Start building your skills base now. Attention to detail Analytical ability Scientific method Lateral thinking Planning and organisational Communication and interpersonal Self-motivation Writing grant applications Team work Relationship management Project management Appreciation of the big picture Collaboration across disciplines Policy development Employers will also be looking for a natural curiosity, an innate interest in the field or work or type of research offered, demonstrated enthusiasm and passion and a willingness to start in the lab! 14

8 Molecular Imaging Biomedical Science Careers in Research and Industry Steven Meikle Professor of Medical Imaging Physics Brain and Mind Research Institute Faculty of Health Sciences What is Molecular Imaging? DNA transcription mrna translation proteins molecular imaging structural ion channels morphology structural imaging enzymes physiology receptors transport biochemistry

9 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 11 C, 18 F PET chemistry biology physics, engineering computer science maths, pharmacology Research institutes and universities National Imaging Facility (USyd-BMRI, UQ-CAI), Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS) Government research laboratories Brookhaven National Lab, Commissariat à l'énergie Atomique (CEA), ANSTO Pharmaceutical industry GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Bayer Schering Pharma Imaging system manufacturers Siemens, GE, Philips Molecular Imaging Employers

10 Postgraduate Study in Molecular Imaging European Master in Molecular Imaging Health Sciences and Technology Graduate Program Master of Molecular Imaging* (USyd, UQ, NUS) Watch this space... sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/molecular_imaging * subject to Academic Board approval

11 Sydney University Seminar Careers in Biomedical Science A/Prof. Sally Dunwoodie Head, Embryology Laboratory Developmental Biology Division Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Dr Catherine Suter Head, Epigenetics Laboratory Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute On the Road to Discovery

12 Problems of the heart structural coronary vascular disease cardiomyopathies arrhythmias Why we do what we do The Heart of Australia 1 in 3 people die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia (45,670 people/ 34% of all deaths). Heart disease does not discriminate it strikes young and old. Despite recent progress, one Australian dies every 10 mins of heart disease. CVD kills more people in Australia than all forms of cancer combined. Nearly twice as many children die each year from congenital heart disease than from all childhood cancers combined. Female deaths: 1:3 heart disease; 1:9 stroke; 1:25 of breast cancer.

13 The Chang 12 research groups 89 research staff 20 PhD & honours students 9 research support staff 28 administration, IT and building staff 5 Research Divisions 1. Cardiac Physiology & Transplantation Heart muscle contractility Heart transplantation 2. Developmental Biology Heart formation Heart stem cells 3. Molecular Cardiology & Biophysics Stem cell clinical trials Genes and heart disease Channels and fibrillation and arrhythmia 4. Molecular Genetics Control of gene expression 5. Structural & Computational Biology Protein structure and drug design Sally s story 1986: Graduated with a BSc (majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics) from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours 1987: Research Assistant Department of Medicine University Sydney 1993: Awarded PhD from the University of Sydney for research into the genetic control of muscle development. 1993: Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Institute for Medical Research, in London, UK. There, in the Mammalian Development Unit she identified novel genes active during mouse embryo development. 2000: Returned to Australia to take up a faculty position at the VCCRI and to establish the Embryology Laboratory at the Institute.

14 Heart Development Australia 22.2 million people ~347,000 pregnancies 270,000 live births with 5,200 heart defects 20,810 deaths >20 weeks with 8,300 heart defects 52,025 deaths >20 weeks with 20,800 heart defects Heart is the first organ to form days) and function days) during development Heart Development R L

15 Heart Development Gene expression in the developing heart RNA, protein Gene targeting DNA cloning, sequencing, embryo microinjection Examine the heart microscopy, histology, cell biology We have identified genes required for normal heart development: Nkx2-5, Tbx20, GATA4, Cited2

16 Cath s story 1993: Graduated with a BAppSc (Biomedical) from the University of Technology, Sydney. 1995: BSc (Hons, Class I) from University of New South Wales (UNSW) 2001: Received PhD from UNSW for work on breast cancer metastisis. During postdoctoral studies, moved into the field of epigenetics, and reported the first cases of germline epimutation in humans Joined the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and now heads up the Epigenetics Laboratory performing research into the epigenetic contribution to variation and common human disease. The VCCRI Epigenetics Lab Mechanisms underlying epigenetic changes in normal variation and disease Epigenetic inheritance and response to environmental stimuli Human cohorts, cell lines and mice Soma and germline DNA methylation Small RNAs Methods: Bisulphite sequencing, deep sequencing, microarray, bioinformatics

17 Epigenetics We have about 25,000 genes, but not all are used in the same cell at the same time Epigenetic changes switch genes on and off as they are needed Epigenetics provides a basis for nongenetic variation within an individual and between individuals

18 A vy mice are a model of epigenetic variation and inheritance Supplementation of Avy mice with methyl donors causes the spectrum of coat colours to change and the risk of obesity and diabetes as well! And

19 A memory of the silencing effect remains after supplementation is ceased Why we love what we do Careers in Biomedical Science Feed your CURIOSITY and expand your knowledge. Be the FIRST to discover something new. TRAVEL the world, attending international seminars and conferences, collaborating with peers from around the globe. MEET interesting people with a common desire to learn and discover. And make a DIFFERENCE to human suffering.

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