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Post by xandra on Dec 24, 2007 1:16:52 GMT -5
Funny, I just got hired to head up Marketing, PR and content for an ecommerce startup. I majored in sociology, so the job definitely isn't related to my field. To my credit, I worked for a marketing/PR-type company in Toronto for two summers but I got my job through connections.
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cm
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Post by cm on Dec 24, 2007 1:26:55 GMT -5
Funny, I just got hired to head up Marketing, PR and content for an ecommerce startup. I majored in sociology, so the job definitely isn't related to my field. To my credit, I worked for a marketing/PR-type company in Toronto for two summers but I got my job through connections. BINGO I'm the type that likes to play it safe and be in the position where I'm being recruited rather than having to go through elaborate schemes to get to know somebody in the company to hook me up. When you have to compete for a job, you are always expendable with scores of other applicants trying to take your spot. When you get recruited, you have few who can replace you and thus more job security. Anyways, that's my philosophy, and of course it doesn't apply to everybody, especially those who love the competition. But I digress.
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Post by jewbird on Dec 24, 2007 2:50:51 GMT -5
But in a globalized world, is it even possible to have a skillset that is in such demand that they recruit you? It seems to me that any field where it's possible to formally study your way to qualification will be quickly innundated with and overrun by Chinese and Indian applicants until it becomes a commodity.
Therefore the best way to compete is to do something that can't be commodified like becoming a model or video game programmer or lawyer. Or have rich parents. Or start your own company. Or marry well.
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cm
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Post by cm on Dec 24, 2007 3:10:55 GMT -5
But in a globalized world, is it even possible to have a skillset that is in such demand that they recruit you? It seems to me that any field where it's possible to formally study your way to qualification will be quickly innundated with and overrun by Chinese and Indian applicants until it becomes a commodity. Therefore the best way to compete is to do something that can't be commodified like becoming a model or video game programmer or lawyer. Or have rich parents. Or start your own company. Or marry well. Such as service industry. Generally, you can't have a doctor or nurse perform services for you all the way across the Pacific Ocean. I can't have somebody in India fill my cavity, etc. unless I would fly there myself, which wouldn't make sense unless it was some really expensive surgery.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 3:52:37 GMT -5
Surely the woman's expertise with blood-sucking parasites qualifies her as having microbiology experience? Good one jewbird although blood-sucking parasites can be seen with the naked eye and are hence not considered microbes. Our section deals mainly with viruses.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 3:58:35 GMT -5
Off topic: Do you have your masters degree in microbiology? Microbiology was one of my majors but my degree focussed mainly on Molecular Genetics. I considered doing more study but I almost burnt out the last time I tried to embark on a higher qualification. Some of the research scientists at work are trying to push me into getting a masters degree (because they need someone to replace them and they think I'm suited to it) but I don't really want to. I'd have to go back to being a poor student and I'm trying to save up for a house. Plus, having extra letters after one's name means sweet FA to me and if I plan on having kids, well, how's a master's degree or PhD going to help me?
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Post by cheeseprata on Dec 24, 2007 5:46:32 GMT -5
Off topic: Do you have your masters degree in microbiology? Microbiology was one of my majors but my degree focussed mainly on Molecular Genetics. I considered doing more study but I almost burnt out the last time I tried to embark on a higher qualification. Some of the research scientists at work are trying to push me into getting a masters degree (because they need someone to replace them and they think I'm suited to it) but I don't really want to. I'd have to go back to being a poor student and I'm trying to save up for a house. Plus, having extra letters after one's name means sweet FA to me and if I plan on having kids, well, how's a master's degree or PhD going to help me? The Med Science world is a funny old one. I also used to work in Microbiology and it seemed that my bit of paper helped me out in the salary stakes. Back on this topic, I don't really care how paper qualifed a person is as long as they can do the job. I only have a crappy certificate from 1 year of Tafe - film and tv course (vocational college) yet I seem to do okay. I've just been meeting production industry professionals here in Bangkok and if there's one thing in this profession you can get caught out on, it's bulls***. Noone is interested in someone who can't do the job no matter what your paper says.
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Post by jewbird on Dec 24, 2007 16:09:22 GMT -5
Surely the woman's expertise with blood-sucking parasites qualifies her as having microbiology experience? Good one jewbird although blood-sucking parasites can be seen with the naked eye and are hence not considered microbes. Our section deals mainly with viruses. Well, in my view the real world equivalent of a virus is a meme. And this woman is apparently successfully propagating the meme that she's a poor victim of cruel and petty personal politics when she apparently has no skills but. Why is she in your section? Because the other section apparently decided they could do without her. Now she gets to stay because she's a victim. Or let me break it down for you: If anyone else in the department really had any knowledge of viruses at all, they'd figure out a way to get rid of her. But apparently no virus has ever been cured. Physician, heal thyself!
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 16:15:19 GMT -5
I wish I could because I'm sick. I feel like crap Just my luck to come down with something on Christmas Eve. This is gonna be the worst Christmas ever.
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cm
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Post by cm on Dec 24, 2007 16:23:56 GMT -5
Off topic: Do you have your masters degree in microbiology? Microbiology was one of my majors but my degree focussed mainly on Molecular Genetics. I considered doing more study but I almost burnt out the last time I tried to embark on a higher qualification. Some of the research scientists at work are trying to push me into getting a masters degree (because they need someone to replace them and they think I'm suited to it) but I don't really want to. I'd have to go back to being a poor student and I'm trying to save up for a house. Plus, having extra letters after one's name means sweet FA to me and if I plan on having kids, well, how's a master's degree or PhD going to help me? Oic. Just curious on whether you need an advanced degree to work in that field. I'm thinking of going for an advanced degree in mathematical Bio, and heard you can't really find work without it in the US.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 16:53:36 GMT -5
Well, I can only speak for the qualifications needed in Western Australia - Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) or Bachelor of Science (Molecular Genetics) if you're working in virus PCR. Statistics is always good for science research, I've completed a couple of semesters worth of stats plus it was part of some of my other major units. Not that I remember much of it now... ;D
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cm
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Post by cm on Dec 24, 2007 20:03:40 GMT -5
Isn't PCR done nowadays with machines? Or do you mean you make those machines and analyze the data etc.?
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 22:10:10 GMT -5
We have machines for some things. PCR is carried out on thermocyclers, which do the heating and cooling required to amplify the DNA. We have a couple of robots that can inoculate extracted RNA/DNA samples into the required reaction mixes plus a DNA extractor (for R&D purposes only at the moment). Our work is actually quite labour-intensive due to the nature of our testing. We test for over 50 infectious diseases from every type of specimen you can think of that can come from a human body. It's not possible to treat them all the same and some need multiple tests - this is why it's so difficult to automate. So at the moment we perform all DNA/RNA extractions manually (using a kit method) and most of our inoculation of master mixes is done by hand as well (several hundred tiny tubes every day). A couple of staff have had RSI and we're doing our best to move as much as we can to automated methods but so far only 7 of our tests have been able to be set up on the robots. As a scientist, I analyse and interpret the test results as well as doing some trouble shooting. Real-time PCR's pretty good - we get results quicker, there's less ambiguity and it's just all-round easier to look at numbers rather than trying to line up bands on a gel. Our Rotorgenes break down all the time though - Corbett has so much faith in their machines they actually gave us an extra loan one to use over the holiday period in case another one breaks.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 24, 2007 22:13:14 GMT -5
Stats is good if you're trying to set up a study and you want to find out if your results are significant or not. It's also good for population health and genetics purposes. I don't actually use it much in job as medical scientist. Most of the time the only maths I use is simple addition and subtraction or straightforward equations (c1V1 = c2V2)
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cm
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Post by cm on Dec 24, 2007 22:21:39 GMT -5
Haplotype's biostatistics field looks cool. He analyzes death statistics and analyzes them, etc. Making all these graphics on excel.
Don't you use PCR to diagnose AIDS?
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