Chemistry careers - A day in the work life of a chemist

careersnz
8 Nov 201603:16
EducationalLearning
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TLDRHilary, a process development chemist at GlycoSyn, part of Callaghan Innovation, specializes in scaling up drug production for clinical trials. She transitions molecules from lab-scale to commercial quantities, overcoming challenges related to mixing and heating at larger scales. With a passion for chemistry sparked by a Bachelor's degree and honed through a PhD focusing on greener drug production for tuberculosis, Hilary enjoys hands-on lab work and the rewarding problem-solving aspect of her job, emphasizing the need for perseverance in scientific endeavors.

Takeaways
  • 👩‍🔬 Hilary is a process development chemist at GlycoSyn, part of Callaghan Innovation, focusing on contract work for pharmaceutical companies.
  • 🧪 GlycoSyn's work involves collaboration with small-scale research scientists from universities on the development of new drugs for clinical trials.
  • 📈 Hilary's role is centered around the scale-up process, transitioning from making molecules in a lab setting to producing them on a larger scale, up to a kilogram in a pilot plant.
  • 🔄 The scale-up process presents challenges, such as changes in mixing and heating, which require adjustments similar to the scaling of a recipe when increasing its size.
  • 🎓 Hilary's interest in chemistry and science led her to pursue a career in this field after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and maths.
  • 🌿 Her PhD research focused on creating drugs for tuberculosis using greener and more environmentally friendly methods.
  • 💡 A significant discovery during her research was finding molecules effective at killing the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis.
  • 🔬 Hilary enjoys the hands-on aspects of her job, including lab work, purifications, and reactions.
  • 💪 The problem-solving nature of her work is rewarding, though it requires perseverance and persistence in the face of challenging experiments.
  • 🔄 After a break from studying, Hilary gained valuable experience working as an analytical chemistry technician, learning new skills.
  • 🌐 The potential for real-life applications and making a difference in the world was a driving force for Hilary to choose chemistry as her career path.
Q & A

  • What is Hilary's profession and where does she work?

    -Hilary is a process development chemist working at GlycoSyn, which is part of Callaghan Innovation.

  • What type of work does GlycoSyn contract from pharmaceutical companies?

    -GlycoSyn contracts work to manufacture new drugs for clinical trials.

  • Who are some of the people Hilary collaborates with in her role?

    -Hilary collaborates with a variety of people, including small-scale research scientists from universities.

  • Can you describe the process Hilary is involved in as a process development chemist?

    -Hilary is involved in the scale-up process, which includes learning how to make a molecule on a small scale in a lab setting and then scaling up the process to produce larger quantities, potentially up to a kilogram in the pilot plant.

  • What are some of the challenges Hilary faces when scaling up chemical processes?

    -Challenges include adjusting processes such as mixing and heating, which change at larger scales. For example, doubling the size of a mixture requires better mixing to ensure proper ingredient combination, and heating time must be adjusted based on the oven's efficiency and the size of the containers used.

  • What motivated Hilary to pursue a career in chemistry?

    -Hilary has always been interested in chemistry and science, and she was particularly drawn to chemistry due to its real-life applications and the potential to make a difference in the world.

  • What educational background does Hilary have in chemistry?

    -Hilary has a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and maths, and she also completed her honours and PhD in chemistry.

  • What was Hilary's first chemistry job?

    -Hilary's first chemistry job was as an analytical chemistry technician, which she took after deciding to take a break from studying and gain more real-life lab experience.

  • What was the focus of Hilary's PhD research?

    -Hilary's PhD research focused on developing drugs for tuberculosis using greener and more environmentally friendly methods.

  • What does Hilary find exciting about her role as a chemist?

    -Hilary enjoys spending time working with her hands in the lab, conducting purifications and reactions, and finds the problem-solving aspect of her job very satisfying.

  • What personal qualities does Hilary believe are important for a successful career in science?

    -Hilary believes that perseverance and persistence are key qualities for a successful career in science, as not all experiments are successful, and it's important to continue working on challenging projects.

Outlines
00:00
🧪 Introduction to Process Development Chemist Role

The first paragraph introduces Hilary, a process development chemist at GlycoSyn, a part of Callaghan Innovation. It explains her role in handling contract work from pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for clinical trials. The paragraph delves into the specifics of her job, which involves scaling up the process of molecule creation from lab scale to larger quantities suitable for clinical trials. It also touches upon the challenges that come with scaling up, using the analogy of baking a cake to explain the intricacies. Hilary's personal journey into the field, her academic background, and her passion for chemistry and its real-world applications are also discussed. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and problem-solving skills in her line of work.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Process Development Chemist
A process development chemist specializes in scaling up chemical processes, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. This role involves taking a chemical process that has been successful on a small scale, such as in a laboratory, and adapting it to produce larger quantities of a substance, like a new drug for clinical trials. In the video, Hilary explains that her work focuses on the scale-up part of drug development, transitioning from milligrams to potentially kilograms in a pilot plant. This is critical for making drugs accessible for wider use.
💡GlycoSyn
GlycoSyn is an organization that Hilary works for as a process development chemist. It is part of Callaghan Innovation and specializes in contract work for pharmaceutical companies to manufacture new drugs for clinical trials. The keyword 'GlycoSyn' represents the company where the main narrative of the video is situated, highlighting its role in the pharmaceutical industry and its focus on collaboration with universities and research scientists.
💡Scale-up
In the context of the video, 'scale-up' refers to the process of increasing the production volume of a chemical substance, such as a drug molecule, from a small laboratory scale to a larger industrial scale. This process is essential in the pharmaceutical industry to produce enough of a new drug for clinical trials and potential commercial use. The challenges of scale-up include adjusting the process to account for differences in mixing and heating at larger volumes, as Hilary explains with the analogy of baking a cake.
💡Pharmaceutical Companies
Pharmaceutical companies are businesses that focus on the research, development, and marketing of medications for various medical conditions. In the video, these companies contract GlycoSyn to produce new drugs for clinical trials, highlighting the collaborative nature of the pharmaceutical industry and the critical role of organizations like GlycoSyn in drug development.
💡Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that determine whether a new medical treatment is both safe and effective. In the context of the video, Hilary's work at GlycoSyn directly contributes to this phase of drug development by producing the necessary quantities of new drugs for testing. The success of scale-up is crucial for a drug to progress from the lab to clinical trials and eventually to market availability.
💡Mixing and Heating
Mixing and heating are fundamental processes in chemistry that become more complex when scaling up production. As Hilary explains, when increasing the volume of a mixture, the efficiency of mixing must also increase to ensure proper ingredient combination. Similarly, heating times and methods must be adjusted based on the scale and the equipment used. These processes are critical in the scale-up of chemical reactions, particularly in the production of pharmaceuticals.
💡Chemistry and Science
Chemistry and science are the core disciplines that Hilary is passionate about and forms the basis of her career. In the video, she expresses her interest in understanding how things work and the real-world applications of chemistry, particularly in the context of drug development and helping people. Her background in chemistry and maths led her to pursue a career in this field, motivated by the potential to make a difference in the world.
💡Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry
A Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry is an undergraduate academic degree that provides a foundational education in the field of chemistry. In the video, Hilary mentions that her interest in chemistry led her to pursue this degree, which equipped her with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand and work with chemical processes. This educational background was a stepping stone towards her career as a process development chemist.
💡Analytical Chemistry Technician
An analytical chemistry technician is a professional who performs laboratory tests and analyses to identify the chemical content or other properties of substances. In the video, Hilary shares her experience working as one after completing her honors degree. This role allowed her to gain practical lab experience and develop new skills, which were crucial for her subsequent career progression.
💡PhD Research
PhD research refers to the original investigation conducted by a graduate student to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree. In the video, Hilary's PhD research focused on developing drugs for tuberculosis in more environmentally friendly ways. This research not only contributed to scientific knowledge but also led to the discovery of effective anti-tuberculosis compounds, showcasing the impact of academic research on practical applications.
💡Green Chemistry
Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is an area of chemistry focused on designing products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. In the video, Hilary's PhD research aimed to make drugs for tuberculosis using greener methods, reflecting a commitment to environmentally friendly practices in chemical processes. This concept is important in contemporary chemistry, as it promotes the reduction of negative environmental impacts and the development of more sustainable technologies.
💡Problem-Solving
Problem-solving in the context of the video refers to the critical thinking and persistence required to overcome challenges in scientific research and laboratory work. Hilary emphasizes that not all experiments are successful, and being a great scientist involves having the perseverance to continue with challenging projects. This skill is essential for making progress in the field of chemistry and contributes to the development of new drugs and technologies.
Highlights

Hilary is a process development chemist at GlycoSyn, part of Callaghan Innovation.

GlycoSyn undertakes contract work for pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for clinical trials.

Hilary's role involves scaling up the drug-making process from lab scale to larger quantities.

The scale-up process is complex due to changes in mixing and heating at larger scales.

Hilary likens the scale-up process to baking a cake, emphasizing the need for better mixing and adjusting heating times.

Hilary's interest in chemistry and science led her to pursue a career in the field.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and maths, with a focus on real-life applications.

After her honours, Hilary took a break from study to gain more practical lab experience.

As an analytical chemistry technician, Hilary enjoyed learning new skills.

Hilary's PhD research focused on creating drugs for tuberculosis in environmentally friendly ways.

During her research, she discovered molecules effective at killing the bacteria causing tuberculosis.

Hilary enjoys hands-on work in the lab, including purifications and reactions.

Problem-solving in chemistry is a satisfying aspect of Hilary's job, requiring perseverance and persistence.

Hilary's work has the potential to help people and make a significant difference in the world.

The challenges of scale-up chemistry are an integral part of Hilary's role, requiring innovative solutions.

Hilary's career path reflects a balance between academic study and real-world experience.

Her work contributes to the development of new pharmaceuticals, impacting global health.

Transcripts

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Chemistry InnovationPharmaceutical DevelopmentScale-Up ChallengesClinical TrialsGreen ChemistryTuberculosis ResearchLab ExperienceProblem SolvingCareer GrowthReal-Life Applications