Matthew Golding

Senior Scientific Officer, London Research Institute

What subjects did you enjoy at school?

The life sciences and especially biology. I also really enjoyed the creative subjects such as art, metal work and wood work, and most outdoor sports.

What qualifications do you have? (and how many years did it take to get them?)

• BSc (3 years)
• MSc (1 year)
• PhD (4 years)

What inspired you to get into science?

A general interest in Nature and a fascination with how living things are put together and how they work.

How many jobs have you had?

Since 1991, I have had 6 different jobs - 3 of these with Cancer Research UK, all in different laboratories.

What is your position now? Day-to-day, what does it involve?

I’m a Senior Scientific Officer. This involves managing my own research project as well as managing the day-to-day running of the laboratory.

I carry out my own experiments on a daily basis and present my findings to the research group every fortnight. I attend seminars and meetings and supervise/advise students too.

I also deal with the daily running of the laboratory. This means maintaining a safe and organised laboratory environment and overseeing the ordering of laboratory equipment and raw materials.

How did you become interested in cancer research?

My mother died of cancer when I was 11 years old and I wanted to contribute by trying to beat the disease that killed her.

Have you ever worked abroad? (and if so where/how long for?)

Germany, but not in a science related job.

What are the best and worst things about being a scientist?

Best Things

• No two days are the same!
• Research at the bench can result in unexpected surprises and “eureka” moments, which are very exciting and rewarding.
• It’s creative - I frequently have new ideas and these help me think up new ways of tackling the questions raised by my experimental results.

Worst Things

• You can work hard for many months or even years on a single problem and find that it comes to nothing truly beneficial to the wider community.
• Long hours and working on the weekends is not uncommon as some experiments need to be attended to every day.

What qualities do you think it takes to be a good scientist?

Fascination in what you are doing is important.

Other valuable attributes are: imagination, originality, intuition, ingenuity, meticulousness, patience and persistence.

An inquisitive mind and ability for problem solving through lateral/abstract thought is helpful.

You also need a certain resilience and stubbornness not to buckle under repeated experimental failure!

What advice do you have for young people who are interested in getting into science?

Doing science can be the most rewarding and fun job, but only do it if you are genuinely intrigued and fascinated with the subject.

The reality is that most senior science jobs in the UK after postdoctoral level are difficult to come by unless you are very dedicated and gifted.

The career ladder can therefore be restrictive, at least in academia, which is compounded by very poor state funding and support.

Most scientists on completion of their PhD have decided whether they want to continue their science career or do something completely different. A PhD is a very powerful qualification and can lead to numerous opportunities other than what you studied for.

However, doing a PhD is not always necessary - there are many other specialised degrees, especially MSc courses that are better tailored to getting a job with good career prospects, for example, in the biotechnology field.

3 for Fun

What music do you listen to?

Very varied but currently including Green Day, Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis

If you had a super power, what would it be?

To read peoples minds

Who's your role model?

My grandmother