• Question: What made you pursue this career and has there been any moments you’ve wanted to give up?

    Asked by anon-316985 to Sophie on 10 Mar 2022.
    • Photo: Sophie Langdon

      Sophie Langdon answered on 10 Mar 2022:

      Honestly, when I was younger I never would have thought that I would end up working in cancer research. All through school I was really determined to be a vet but unfortunately I didn’t get the grades needed to study so I re-thought and ended up doing Biology at University. At University I became really interested in cancer research because I loved the idea that my work would be helping people in the future who were diagnosed and because it is such a varied field to work in it is never dull!

      It can be a really rewarding job and no day is ever the same. I like that in my job I am not just based at a desk, I get to go into different labs so I get to see and chat to a lot of people and don’t just stare at a screen all day. But there are definitely times when I have thought about giving up! It can be very frustrating when experiments don’t work and the research is not moving forwards. Sometimes you take things very personally when they go wrong and it’s important to learn how to separate yourself from that.

Comments

  • Photo: Mary

    Mary commented on :

    I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in science. At school I loved all things to do with biology but also really enjoyed chemistry and physics. However I realised that whilst I liked chemistry and physics, there were vast areas of these subjects that didn’t inspire me quite like biology did. So I decided to enter into a career in biology or medicine.
    I wanted to be a Vet and did lots of work experience to aim towards this, but at the last minute decided I wanted to do more fundamental biology and research. I took opportunities where they were and always decided that if at any point I didn’t enjoy it, i would re-think careers.
    The only times I have ever considered giving up, are due to the lack of funding given for research and the competitiveness there is. That said, I would never give up on science, I would just change the path that I am on. I am doing a lot more teaching now than I did before and am finding that this is just as enjoyable as working in the lab.

  • Photo: Shajahan

    Shajahan commented on :

    I was curious from my childhood and asked so many “Why and Whynot? questions. My teachers were excellent and encouraged me. I wanted to become a medical doctor when I started my A/Ls (6th form) but then changed my mind and went for a PhD and become a scientist.I enjoy answering questions about life (cells and how they grow and function and respond to different environmental conditions). I also enjoy pursing and mentoring (guiding) young minds towards a similar dream and enjoy presnting my work and teaching. In this job many get shorter job contracts and depends heavily on funding (ability to find money to fund your research and you). This uncertainty puts you off a bit but never considered to move away so far.

  • Photo: Gareth

    Gareth commented on :

    I pursued this career simply through wanting to learn more about the way the body works and what goes wrong when we are ill.

    I never thought I would actually end up doing it as a job I just loved learning and luckily for me I now get to teach students who love learning just as much as I did.

    There have been times were I wanted to give up my job, mainly when my little girl was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because it was a really hard time but actually it made me even more determined to keep going and keep helping other people

  • Photo: Amy

    Amy commented on :

    I’ve always been interested in science and took science subjects in school, but I didn’t really know that I’d stay a scientist until I studied hearing during my degree. I found it so interesting that I was really sad to see the work go when I graduated, so I wrote a PhD project for myself and proposed it to my now supervisor, and here I am!

    There have definitely been times I’ve wanted to give up. The work can be difficult, stressful and downright miserable sometimes, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. I get to go to work every day with the chance of discovering something that changes the world! No two days of research are the same, the hours are flexible, the people are great- it really is worth the bad days!