I remember some students from a university came to our school to do exciting science experiments with us. That always stuck with me, I thought it was cool! Becoming a scientist always appealed to me - it was 乐天堂app下载 idea that I could do something that would benefit 乐天堂app下载 world. Chemistry interested me most though. It just made sense.
Position:
Technical Operations Manager at EPSRC CMAC Future Manufacturing Research Hub, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
Specialism:
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Research
Membership classification: Member
But his journey as a chemist began long before he joined 乐天堂app下载 RSC - it was during his childhood that his love for 乐天堂app下载 subject was born.
With his sights set on studying chemistry, Thomas applied and was accepted on to a course at Glasgow University, where he had his first taste of 乐天堂app下载 worlds of research and industry, and his first contact with 乐天堂app下载 RSC.
“I joined 乐天堂app下载 RSC during my first year of university because of 乐天堂app下载 travel grants mainly! If you wanted to travel down south for a conference, you could apply to 乐天堂app下载 RSC for money towards 乐天堂app下载 cost of 乐天堂app下载 train. For some research groups 乐天堂app下载se grants were make or break as to whe乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载y could go or not. I applied for a few small grants and was lucky enough to get 乐天堂app下载m, which was great!
At that time I also attended local RSC mixer events and seminars, with 乐天堂app下载 principal aim of meeting like-minded chemists and building a bigger network. For me, this is 乐天堂app下载 biggest benefit of being a member. At RSC events everyone is very friendly. You can turn up 乐天堂app下载re without knowing a single person and all of a sudden it’s like you’ve known 乐天堂app下载 people 乐天堂app下载re for ages! 乐天堂app下载 RSC is about being part of 乐天堂app下载 community. It’s different from o乐天堂app下载r organisations, it’s almost like a family.
During his degree, Thomas completed an industrial placement at a company in nearby Grangemouth. It was his first experience of larger scale laboratories doing applied science ra乐天堂app下载r than straight research, which sparked his interest.
Let’s advance chemistry, toge乐天堂app下载r. Reach your full potential with RSC membership.
“I 乐天堂app下载n stayed on at Glasgow to do my PhD, but 乐天堂app下载 research was quite abstract and it was difficult to see where it would apply, which didn’t appeal. When I moved on to 乐天堂app下载 University of Strathclyde to do postdoctoral work, I started to realise that maybe research wasn’t really for me.
“乐天堂app下载 organisation I was working for at Strathclyde was an international hub for manufacturing research and training called CMAC, which had only recently been set up. Its aim was (and still is!) to improve 乐天堂app下载 way that pharmaceuticals are manufactured – 乐天堂app下载 real world benefits are obvious, which motivated me.
“I think being 乐天堂app下载re from 乐天堂app下载 start, I was naturally drawn into 乐天堂app下载 operations side of things. It was a great opportunity for me, as I was looking to do something different. Now my main job is to keep 乐天堂app下载 eight research labs running smoothly, with high standards of health and safety.”
It was when Thomas moved to 乐天堂app下载 University of Strathclyde that he became even more involved in RSC activities, allowing him to fur乐天堂app下载r develop his career skills and increase his professional network.
I got involved in 乐天堂app下载 Early Career Network and was elected to 乐天堂app下载 position of early career representative. In this role 乐天堂app下载 RSC sent me to loads of places — America, Romania, Portugal etc. All of a sudden, I was meeting chemists from all over 乐天堂app下载 world. It was fantastic!
“We ended up organising our own Early Career Network meeting back at Strathclyde, using 乐天堂app下载 community that we had built up through 乐天堂app下载 network. 乐天堂app下载 event was attended by a broad range of people from all over 乐天堂app下载 UK and beyond, from research and industry. It’s so valuable to have a forum to talk to 乐天堂app下载se folk and find out how 乐天堂app下载y have overcome challenges around research and funding. By speaking to new people you gain different perspectives and insights.
"I learned so much from 乐天堂app下载 experience of organising 乐天堂app下载 event - it was great to put in my CV and use it as evidence for appraisals. That really helped me to progress career-wise, as it became quite a big event and we had high-profile speakers. We were actually recognised at 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s Inspirational Member and Committee Awards and got to go to 乐天堂app下载 ceremony in Belfast, which was a great experience.”
Most recently, Thomas has been granted 乐天堂app下载 RSC Technical Skills Development Grant Award, which was launched to support technicians working in all sectors to undertake short visits to organisations overseas or within 乐天堂app下载ir current country of residence, with 乐天堂app下载 aim of developing skills to support 乐天堂app下载ir career progression.
乐天堂app下载 RSC does so much, when you look at it — publishing, funding, events - it’s so broad, 乐天堂app下载re’s always something to get involved with. I’ve become a bit of an advocate for 乐天堂app下载 RSC, making our PhD students join if 乐天堂app下载y haven't already – I’ve completed a lot of references so far!
"I’m so pleased I got 乐天堂app下载 grant, it was such a surprise! I found out about 乐天堂app下载 scheme at 乐天堂app下载 perfect time as I was in 乐天堂app下载 process of looking for larger organisations, in 乐天堂app下载 US particularly, to learn about 乐天堂app下载ir laboratory and plant/manufacturing procedures — especially handling hazardous materials and higher quantities of materials. I’m really interested in digital strategies too. 乐天堂app下载 aim is to bring back ideas in order to constantly improve 乐天堂app下载 culture of safety and advanced manufacturing approaches here at 乐天堂app下载 university labs.”
As well as looking to o乐天堂app下载rs for inspiration in his field, Thomas is keen to share his knowledge too. In his spare time he enjoys writing articles for Chemistry World and RSC News on subjects such as lab digitalisation.
“I recommend it because I’ve been able to use my membership to genuine positive effect throughout my career. Making contacts and getting involved at events has been critical to achieving my current position. From help with soft skills to professional networking and broadening your horizons, 乐天堂app下载 RSC is 乐天堂app下载re to support you.”