Career Spotlight

Readers want more basic research funding

We recently ran a survey asking readers to respond with their thoughts and feelings about Canada’s biotechnology and life science industries. Through your answers, we put together an industry trends report for 2012, which you can read online at www.laboratoryfocus.ca.

We asked you about the state of research and innovation in Canada, what issues you want raised before government and what needs to change for Canada to be a world leader in your field.

For a clearer picture, we divided the survey into two streams: business and research. The answers highlighted below are from the survey for researchers, innovators, lead investigators, scientists, research organizations and academia.

In answer to the question do you feel government is listening to what the life science field is telling it, a resounding 85.7 per cent of you said ‘no,’ with only 14.3 per cent saying ‘yes.’

Top among the concerns you want raised to government was the lack of funding for basic discovery-based research. Respondents called for more funding agencies (or simplified application methods) for new discoveries that require risk – innovation – to really take off. You also wanted funding to be awarded based on quality instead of commercial potential. While traditionally Canada’s weak spot has been getting innovations commercialized, respondents cautioned that collaborations created with the sole intent of commercialization can curb true innovation.

Meanwhile in response to the question is Canada a leader on the world stage in your field, just 41.2 per cent said ‘yes,’ while 64.7 per cent answered ‘no.’

However in your individual comments, you credited Canada’s strongest attributes as the intelligence and creativity of its researchers and the excellence of our academic institutions. Results that are reflected in your feedback concerning the state of research and innovation in Canada: 44.4 per cent rated it above average (more so on the research side), 44.4 per cent called it average and 11.1 per cent below average.

Concerning funding for the industry, a whopping 83.3 per cent of respondents found granting and financing opportunities harder to come by, while 16.7 per cent found them the same.

Many also noted that a small group of individual researchers are getting increasingly larger grants, while less funding is available for the majority of researchers and students. Similarly, respondents mentioned they would rather see money being distributed amongst more researchers instead of going towards “big stars.”

Lastly, many respondents commented on the plight of students and recent graduates. As research funds and post-graduate scholarships decline, many are concerned that we could enter another brain-drain period if our grads cannot find employment in Canada. Respondents said it’s time to think about a national strategy for funding graduate student training.

We thank you for participating in our survey and Happy March!

CAREER SPOTLIGHT

Bio-economy Career Profile

Compiled by BioTalent Canada

Position: Assistant Plant Manager Name: Mike Fletcher Company: Iogen Corporation Salary Range: $80,000 to $100,000 per year

What I do:

My role is assisting in all operational aspects, ensuring the facility reaches its goals. I ensure the health, safety, and environmental issues are taken into account each day. The Assistant Plant Manager role is a mixture of short-term problem solving and longer-term planning, including building teams and defining employee roles. Hiring people is part of the process, as we are a growing company and always looking for good people. Other duties include assisting in marketing the commercial enzymes that the plant produces for food, pulp and paper, and textiles.

What education and skills do candidates need for this position?

People in the position tend to have a bio-science, chemical engineering, or biology background. However, plant managers are from all sorts of disciplines; as long as you are someone who is willing to learn on the job, and you come to the position with core competencies. Essential skills include the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in order to take advantage of opportunities that may arise to better the company. There is also a need to effectively troubleshoot, and keep an open mind to learning new things on the job. People skills are also important, as the Assistant Plant Manager spends a good part of the day on the plant floor speaking with employees and listening to their concerns.

What are the best parts of your job?

The best thing about this job is having the ability to take some risks in trying to improve the operation of the plant. It is good for morale and good for the company’s bottom line when improvements pay dividends. I encourage people interested in the industry to remain open-minded about the course of their career, and remember that you can learn from anybody. As well, it’s important to not be too easily discouraged. You can always work your way up in the bio-economy sector.

For more Bio-economy Career Profiles visit www.biotalent.ca/careerprofiles-list-en