CAREERS
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Future
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scientist Insights, information and advice on science careers of the future
Think STEM. Think QUT.
Studying STEM at QUT opens a world of opportunities to achieve your full potential and forge a rewarding career. Discovering how to improve lives by solving a range of real-world problems will be crucial in the future. Many of the jobs of today were unheard of a decade ago: app developers, big data analysts, nanotechnologists and sustainability engineers.
CRICOS No: 00213J
We all know that careers in STEM provide the greatest opportunities to succeed in the future. No university is better placed to help you launch your STEM career than Queensland’s only university of technology. Search QUT STEM to learn more about your study options, scholarship opportunities, and life as a QUT STEM scholar.
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FOREWORD
Build a brighter future Innovations in science are securing our future and building a brighter tomorrow. Are you a future scientist in the making?
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d-in-hand – cience and progress go han or medical al gic olo almost every techn a scientist in ts roo its had breakthrough lying the scientific asking a question and app r. method to find the answe llenges like climate cha bal glo t figh we as d An crucial role of science has change and COVID-19, the n science is about more tha never been clearer – but is e enc Sci e. fac y ead we alr tackling the challenges eries, coming up with new cov dis new g kin ma ut abo into the unknown. questions and venturing terials Science, we are At the QUT Centre for Ma cutting edge of materials conducting research at the outcomes in areas orld development, with real-w dical ration electronics, to me ranging from next-gene ry. ive del g dru plastics and imaging, biodegradable us ps hel t tha e enc sci Of course, it’s not really orm rld around us and transf wo the nd sta der un ter bet , ple peo Science is about our lives – it’s scientists. t people to be driving our bes y ver the and we need o organisations forward int scientific institutions and l ure. Scientists who wil a better and brighter fut can’t even dream about we es make the discoveri solve the inevitable new today, and who will help l bring. challenges the future wil
it’s not really science that helps us better understand the world around us and transform our lives – it’s scientists”
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Professor Kathryn Fairfull-Smith, r Co-Director, Centre foT QU , Materials Science
If you’re curious about how the world works, a problem-solver who wa nts to make the world a better place, then a car eer in science could be for you. Whether you’re exc ited about cutting edge physics and chemistry, pas sionate about the environment or saving live s – there’s likely an education and career pat hway in science to suit you . Read on to learn more and get inspired about becoming a future-focus sed scientist! Professor Kathryn Fairfu ll-Smith, Co-Director, Centre for Materials Sci ence, QUT
Check out Ca for more insights, inreerswithSTEM.com form advice about future ation, inspiration and scientist careers! 3
FUTURE SCIENTIST
DEEP DIVE
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Beyond the future
Cash advan
ent look like? A career in ym plo em e ur fut ur yo es do What rking at the cutting-edge wo an me uld co ce ien sc ed advanc n development, advanced ba ur to h alt he as se er div as in areas tion – or maybe your future va er ns co ife ldl wi to g rin tu manufac ted yet... career hasn’t even been inven
tage Want to pock et the ba n k st AU$60K plus in Science and ra ig ht outta u n i? ca n earn be post-science grads twee depend in g on n AU$60K–$78K you r specia Th is compa lity. re average of As to the national U$52 –$55k for non-science graduates. Cha-ching!
an area gig. Especially when it’s fut ure scientist isn’t a bad n other tha almost two times faster where jobs are growing be the to ed ect next 50 years is exp industries and over the al! tot rs yea 0 40 ss than the previous n’t do t backbone of more progre tha ms ble pro g and inventing ce and From anticipating, solvin en sci al ion dit tra of g the landscape gin an ch to , yet st ead. exi n ah p eve ly one ste ure scientists are literal evolving the lab coat, fut
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Did you know that even before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out aro und the world, scientist s were already exploring previous versions of coronaviruses and their effect on humans, testing and tria lling dif ferent scenarios in the event they may need an antidote one day? While no one cou ld have predicted what 2020 has delivered, it’s the rea son testing was so quick to get off the ground an d why a vaccine is fur the r along than it would have been had the people in the know not been all ov er it. And that’s fut ure science. Scientists who are prepped to fut ure-proof AN Y type of science and find the places where science int ersects with the fut ure.
CAREERSwithSTEM.com
Science evolving
. rching outside of the box Scientists are good at sea ch ear res y the d an s m-solver They’re the world ’s proble ure fut a As . ow tomorr and develop solutions for with fighting climate ked tas be y ma u scientist yo on another planet, life er change, helping to discov , rld for our environment creating a sustainable wo the g din a smart cit y or fin saving a species, building . ies ntr cou ter in third-world key to fresh running wa ng bei at ow about wh Here’s all you need to kn e… lik ks loo ist a fut ure scient
Take note... You don’t have to know all the answers, you only have to know where to find the answers! 4
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pick your pathway who’s hiring depends on who you want to work for. But one thing is for sure, jobs in the science sector are wide and varied. So, prep your resume!
#1
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Educators
Government
on Be a science teacher. Pass t your knowledge to the nex t gen of scientists and be par re. of evolving the futu
Hospitals
If research is your thing, look under the job ads for roles at the bigg est and most diverse organisation in the world, CSIRO. Good news? It’s righ t here in Oz. Or, aim for the boss’ chair and become a business development man ager, combining your science skil ls with people know-how, developing products in the food safety, medical testing, urban growth or ag-tech wor lds.
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place; it Traditional science still has its a white uire req just doesn’t necessarily ent than min pro e coat. Nowhere is it mor ing, test s, Lab ld. in the health wor description trialling are all par t of the job itute, a Inst van Gar the at places like institute. h arc rese ical med lass world-c
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Skills session
If it applies to you, put a cross in the box and see what your skills checklist reveals…
Hint: all roads lead to science!
Startups
Behind every new idea is a per son – or team of people – with the pas sion, the skill and the willingness to put their hand up to solve a problem and find new ways to research, develop and implement change. Think: biot ech; geoscience; Artificial Intellige nce (AI); wearable tech and energy sec tors. And defs consider working for you rself! You are a star tup.
career Kickstart
h. They’re ts get star ted on the right pat s want to help future scientis the and e priz h ussie company Kelly Ser vice cas e rs an awesom Scientist Award, which offe in the are Oz, in g livin the peeps behind The Future ’re you if loyers after graduation. So, emp ial ent pot in all with up lved k opportunity to hoo ths – have been invo duated uni in the past six mon gra or – ree deg nce scie a of final semester r per fect job, check it out! and want to get a jump on you things science through uni
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Good communicator Problem-solver Diverse thinker Curious Creative Good listener Patient Critical thinker Shows initiative Team player Analytical
info.kellyservices.com.au/the-future-scientist-award
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FUTURE SCIENTIST
REAL PEOPLE
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Fabricating w o r r o m o t r o f on searcher Naomi Paxt QUT biofabrication re where her work is used re can’t wait for a futuy in hospitals every da
applying in my research,” she says. “And in the same way , I don’t necessarily understand the ver y intense cell biology tha t’s going on in my neighbouring PhD’s research project.” A typical day for Naomi invo lves set ting up the 3D printers to run in the lab, before meeting with collaborators and other tea m members, writing papers and doing admin. Supervising Hon our s and Masters students is also now a big par t of her job. “We collaborate quite closely with clinicians at the hospita l,” she says. “They give us really direct feedback on what we’ re developing. It’s really useful to our research.” Naomi’s team recently receive d funding from Advance Queensland to research how 3D printing could be used to create personalised, reusable N95 masks in order to reduce the nee d for disposable equipment, whi ch has led to shortages dur ing the COVID-19 pandemic. Her goal for the future is to become a professor and hav e her own research team, as wel l as see her work being used in everyday hospital life. “I thin k it’s going to be really excitin g in the nex t five, 10 or 20 years, whe n 3D printers are just sitting in a surgical suite ready to cra nk out whatever tissue is nee ded to treat a patient,” she says. “A lot of really exciting jobs are goin g to be available in the future.” – Chloe Walker
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Bachelor’s degree intent hen Naomi Pax ton star ted her physics and outer space, she on exploring her passion for t she does now. That wha had no idea it would lead to n exist back then. eve ’t didn t gig could be because her curren at how biofabrication, which looks Naomi’s field of research is lth hea the printing can be applied in synthetic materials and 3D 3D how at ed ed her PhD, which look sector. She recently complet d use be ld cou s cell a patient’s own printed ‘scaffolds’ containing g. of bone graftin to replace existing methods rest x event sparked Naomi’s inte TED a at ter oun A chance enc the on on tati sen pre a re to give in biofabrication. She was the suns being able to sustain life. two it orb t tha ets plan of s chance Mia Woodruff’s talk on tissue Naomi was inspired by Prof Naomi in healthcare. Mia recruited engineering and 3D printing d her she fini has and now that Naomi to a new Masters program, . arch team at QUT PhD she has joined Mia’s rese that appealed to her about gs thin the of Naomi says one multidisciplinary. biofabrication is that it is so ts, engineers, physicists, “It takes biologists, chemis e ns all working together to solv mathematicians and clinicia are,” she says. these big problems in healthc different disciplines, from es Because everyone com ect olutely critical. “I can’t exp communication skills are abs can m tea h arc my immediate rese that even my colleagues in been I’ve t tha hs mat physics or the necessarily understand the Bachelor of Applied Science, QUT
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i think it’s going to be really exciting in the next five, 10 or 20 years”
Master of Applied Science, QUT / Julius Maximilian University of WUrzburg
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PhD, QUT
Associate Researcher, QUT
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… a f o e f li e h t in y a d A
T S I T N E I C S E R U T U F
us about a typical Chemist Vanessa Lussini tells stralia day at the Reserve Bank of Au
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1pm
for a strategy The team gets together again we’re working sure meeting. We need to make ensure we are to s ject on a diverse range of pro es. elin tim and es hitting key mileston
Here’s how she spends he r days at the RBA! 9am
Research Assistant, DMTC Ltd
Research Scientist, Reserve Bank of Australia
. gh with their ban k notes ustralians are rea lly rou e tak , ine washing mach We put them through the m to cook in the sun. the ve lea d them surfing an rs to ret urn her Aussie dolla One grandma even had . t the wrinkles after she tried to iron ou nk tra l ban k, the Reser ve Ba cen a’s ali Over at Austr d fin to job s ni’ ssi Lu nessa of Australia (RBA), it’s Va ure an ban k notes more sec ali str Au ke ma to new ways to es of new security featur through the development y str mi Vanessa studied che prevent counterfeiting. e interested in plastics. am at QU T, where she bec money! Now, she literally ma kes m everywhere, including fro on ati She gets inspir the natural world. “Most toys, craft materials and ve,” she says. “I think it’s sciences are ver y creati . Looking at an idea and something people forget .” else is a rea lly cool thing applying it to something
I catch public transport to wor k. When I arrive at the office, the first thing I do is check my emails. We have lots of overseas coll aborators, so lots of emails come in overnight. We work with other central banks with similar cur rencies to us on ways to improve our bank notes.
3.30pm
t I’ve had some time Back to the emails. Now tha reply to our overseas I s, ject to think about our pro questions or new collaborators with feedback, lab. results from the
10am
I spend some time reading new research and patents to look for new idea s we could apply to our bank notes. For example, could we use the technology from a colour-chan ging toy in some way? Or the chemistry of a cha meleon’s skin? I’ll use this research to design exp eriments.
5pm
e, I’ll work out at Unless I’ve got footy practic n in the evening the gym on the way home. The I catch up on Netflix!
12pm
Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemistry and Biochemistry), QUT
Our team eats lunch togethe r and then we go for a walk. We call it the jail walk because we’re surrounded by massive elec tric fences! Sometimes we spot a kangaro o.
PhD (Chemistry), QUT
closely with other As a project manager, I work ir progress in the scientists and I’ll check on the t trials to prove afternoon. We undertake prin ensure the banknote scaling up processes and to able and tough features we develop are dur enough for Australians!
Research Assistant, CRC for Polymers
2pm
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FUTURE SCIENTIST
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Get the job!
Sci-Fi screen sesh
Excited about a future-focussed science career? Start here
Future follows
what to your insta feed and see Add these scientist peeps in nce ld of all things scie goes on in the futuristic wor nts, new discoveries and eve oss acr real-time. You’ll be the know today, so you’re general info to keep you in work tomorrow. ready for study, inspo and nch Future Crunch @futurecru and tech future and ensuring science the Peeps with a passion for planet. our and ahead for humans are at the forefront of what lies g @qutscieng QUT Science and Engineerin involved in? Tick. get to ps Com Uni courses? Tick. Tick. Following now? Tick. Awesome learning avenues? rs.with.stem Careers with STEM @caree world of STEM and All you need to know about the e. plac opportunities galore in one Bug Girl @hybopterashasta science cts this gal will take you on a From field work to flying inse the future and nce scie combo of adventure like no other. The vision y craz ir the and is real! Think actual dragonflies drone st late the of e som for powers being the inspo n! dow low the has – girl tech. Shasti – AKA Bug
Choose th career if yois u…
> Love all things sci ence! > Are passionate ab out the future > Are logical and a problem-solver
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As if you needed an excuse to binge some of the best movies of all time, here’s our top pick of sci-fi films to cover all your scie nce bases... BIOLOGY Gattaca (1997) Back in 2011, NASA named this movie as their pick of best sci-fi movie ever. Rele ased in the 1990s during the hype around the Hum an Genome Project – an international research effo rt to map all of the genes of human beings (known as our genome) – Gattaca is set in a future where genetic selectio n of human embryos is taken to the extreme. “It’s probably the most believa ble science fiction movie out there,” said Lucy Osborne, a genetics exp ert from the University of Toro nto in Canada. PHYSICS Particle Fever (20 13) If you want to get excited abo ut cutting-edge physics, this doco is a great place to start. It’s all about the search for the Higgs boson particle – a massive international effort involving more than 10,000 scientists from 100 countries, spanning two decades, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and resulting in the bigg est machine ever built. CHEMISTRY Big Hero 6 (20 14) This one contains some fun chemistry – including charac ter Honey Lemon’s magic periodic table purse that produces chemic al compounds to fight villains. The Disney animation stars a 14-year-old robotics genius living in a futuristic city. Yep, superheroes, villains and the periodic table all in one. Grab the popcorn.
ecklist Electives ch l electives?
h schoo Choosi n g h ig ts w il l set you on ec bj su er in These th to a care the right pa science: futu re ✔ Biology ✔ Ph ysics l v iron menta n E & ✔ Ear th s ie d stu ics ✔ Mathemat y ✔ Chem istr
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Refraction Media acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. This edition was published on 28 October 2020.
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