Careers: Advice for young scientists

Peter Molan made research his hobby and his career. Applying science to make technology requires a whole range of skills – do you have them?

Transcript

Professor Peter Molan (University of Waikato)

If you want a very interesting and rewarding career, then think about working in science.

I no doubt could have made a lot more money doing other sort of work, but I would never have found any job where I get the job satisfaction I’ve got in the work I am doing. It’s my hobby as well as my career.

I’ve called upon things I have learnt from physic, maths, and chemistry, as well as all of the biology I have picked up over the years.

I certainly couldn’t have developed these wound dressings without all that breadth of knowledge.

I think if anyone is wanting to get into the technological side, actually applying science to get useful products, processes, and solutions to problems, my advice would be to get the broadest science education you can.