MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Programme leader track experiences
10 July 2012
The NIMR Annual Report includes a number of testimonials from current staff, describing their career and reasons for choosing to work or study at NIMR.
Programme Leader Track (PLT) positions at NIMR provide core support for a period and, following external review, can lead to promotion to an open-ended Programme Leader appointment. Two PLTs give their reasons for choosing NIMR.
Eva Frickel, Parasitology
The reason I am at NIMR is simple. I have always chosen scientific topics and projects
I found most interesting, in the places that I thought did them best. I wanted to start
my own small research group aiming to make a difference in my area of research with
a multi-disciplinary approach. I knew that this would only work in a highly collaborative
environment with research groups around me interested in similar aspects of infectious
diseases, others working with similar methods, all embedded in an institute with fantastic
core facilities and support staff. NIMR immediately stood out as a unique place that
provides all of this.
I applied for a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award to be able to take my research to Mill Hill. I found an NIMR sponsor in Jean Langhorne, who was enthusiastic to recruit me to the Institute. NIMR welcomed me with open arms and I am convinced I made the right choice. I am looking forward to starting my independent career at this place of great history and innovation.
Peter Thorpe, Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics
I was looking to establish my own laboratory exploring how yeast can be used
to understand adult stem cell function. Many institutions focus their research into
narrowly-defined themes. Finding an environment that bridged basic science and
clinical research was difficult. Although some larger universities achieve this balance,
researchers are naturally divided into either clinical or basic research and often have
limited contact or appreciation of each other’s work. I had seen how the MRC brings
together scientists working at both ends of the basic–clinical science spectrum and so
when I saw an opportunity to work at NIMR, I applied immediately. NIMR’s research is
legendary and with so many great scientists launching their careers here, this was too
good an opportunity to miss.
At NIMR the MRC support means we can spend most of our time on research. We are able to drive the research forward using new approaches to solve our scientific questions. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere helps to make interdisciplinary research a reality. I have already been working with both structural and developmental biologists to exploit our yeast system in new ways. In the coming years I hope to be able to make the most of this fantastic environment.
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