• Question: If I became a scientist like you, would I get to spend time with my family? Or is the job really full on?

    Asked by yabba to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 16 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      It really depends on what you want. Science is very flexible, if you want to reach the top of the profession then yes, a lot of work is required but I know several scientists that fit this around busy social and family lives. Also, noone really cares when you get your work done, so long as you are getting results, so I find I’m not restricted to working nine to five.
      You don’t have to work within academia (universities) as we all do, there are loads of opportunities to work for pharmaceutical companies. The jobs here tend to stick to office hours so you wont find yourself in the lab until midnight!

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi yabba!,
      It’s a busy job and there is always lots to do and things to see. But isn’t any job like that?
      Personally, I have loads of time to see my family and friends and I don’t think being a scientist has ever stopped me having fun – if anything, it’s helped me meet loads of cool people!

      Eoin

    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      hi yabba thanks for your question!
      Of course you can spend time with your family if you are a scientist!!
      I won’t deny though that the job can be pretty hectic, but i like it that way. As long as you get some kind of balance between work and home, it’s the best job ever!

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi Yabba

      The job certainly is full on, but this doesn’t mean you miss out on family life. Before I had a family I would be in the lab 12 hours a day plus weekends, which is typical for many scientists early in their careers. But having a family changes everything, and even science, wonderful as it is, has to shuffle into second place in life. Now, with wifi and laptops etc., I often work at home if I’m just writing (which I do a lot), and I don’t go into the lab at weekends any more. I definitely don’t put in as many hours as I used to but I like to think I use my time more efficiently, so on balance I still get as much done.

    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi yabba. Great question. Science is definitely full on, but it is also completely possible to balance research and family life – I certainly do, and so do most of my colleagues.

      The cool thing about science is that you don’t always have to be “at work” to do it. Some of my best experimental ideas came when I was doing something else entirely, like cycling home, or painting a fence. The idea pops in, even if you weren’t actually actively thinking about the problem, and you discover that your subconscious had been kicking ideas around the whole time. I love that about science – you just get hooked on problems, and find yourself working on them in your mind a lot of the time, even when you aren’t in lab.

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