Voices From The Community
The changing world of research
Story by Connie Bryson/Illustration by Getty Images
Dr. Richard Murphy offers some career advice for young scientists.
In terms of big career moves, Dr. Richard Murphy has had a few: Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute, President and CEO of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and President of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. But he considers his best career move was coming to Alberta in 1986 to take up the position of Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Alberta.
“I had been at Harvard Medical School for 11 years, when I was asked by Dr. Doug Wilson [Dean of Medicine at the time] to come to Alberta to give a talk,” Dr. Murphy recalls. “The visit was an eye-opener. Through AHFMR*, the province was making a major investment in science. Talented people from all over the world were coming to Alberta. I wanted to be part of that excitement.”
Dr. Murphy stayed at the University of Alberta for six years, establishing himself as an outstanding scientific leader. Wherever his career has taken him since, he has become known for his tireless work in promoting medical research, attracting research funding, and supporting young scientists. Below, Dr. Murphy offers insights and advice on how science has changed and what those changes mean for people embarking on a career in science.
Be a team player. “Science has become so much more technologically sophisticated. As a result, one person simply can’t be good at everything. As we look across the world now, great science is done by interdisciplinary teams of scientists consisting of Ph.D.s and M.D.s. Collaboration is critical. The questions asked by collaborative teams are much bigger than those that can be asked by individuals. One example is the emerging research on behaviour, which draws not only on behavioural science, but also on electrophysiology and genetics, to study the genes that regulate brain structure and chemistry. The only way to do this research is to put together a multi-talented team. Young scientists must understand the collaborative nature of science. You must look outside yourself to find the expertise you need.
“Science is also more powerful. Technology has given us a wonderful new handle on science so that we can try to answer questions we never would have even dreamed of asking 20 or 30 years ago. And again, collaboration is important. You want to work with people who have access to technologies and skills that are different from yours. By working in a team, you have the opportunity to ask questions about genes, questions about protein structure and function, and questions about physiology. When you do work like that, you can publish in the best journals with the highest impact.”
Find your focus. “While collaborative science is indeed the future, there will always be room for creative breakthrough research done by talented investigators. You have to become the world expert in something so that you are a valuable member of a team. Find your passion and work hard at it. This way, you can justify your own existence in science—which is important because we still evaluate people on their individual effort—and you become attractive as a team member, as well as enhance your ability to create teams.”
Aim high. “Finally, young scientists need to aim high and ask the important questions. Sure, you can have a career by publishing every year in some middle journal. But that is not where the great steps forward come from. Think about the key questions in your field. How would you go about answering them? This way, your science will be worth doing and worth funding. You’ll do the translational science that the public now demands; the science that transforms how we think about biology so that we can cure diseases and ease suffering.”
*AHFMR is now Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions.