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From Industry to Education
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From Industry to Education Scientists are making the transition to teaching after successful careers in other industries. But why?
that I joined GlaxoSmithKline and persuaded them to use the solid phase techniques I’d been working on at Roche. I then went to work for Organon at its research facility in Scotland, where I stayed until 2011.
Corinne Kay, 54, joined a teacher training programme in Bedfordshire last year after nearly three decades working in the pharmaceuticals industry. She has a PhD in chemistry, three inventor patents and more than 50 publications to her name – all of which, she says, give her a valuable perspective when teaching physics, chemistry and biology in the classroom. What did you do during your time in pharma? My first job was with Roche in Welwyn Garden City, where I stayed for nine years. I was part of a team that helped pioneer solid phase synthesis at Roche, a technique that Robert Bruce Merrifield had just won a Nobel prize for inventing. We synthesised a large number of compounds in a very short time. One result was the HIV drug saquinavir. After
What made you switch to teaching? When I was working in the pharmaceuticals industry I always fancied teaching. When my daughters were taking their GCSEs I’d organise extra lessons for them and their friends. They did well and always said they wished I was their teacher. So after leaving Organon I thought maybe I should go into teaching. Anyone I told this to said I was mad, that I’d hate it, that kids were rude nowadays, that there was so much pressure. But then my former head of department at GlaxoSmithKline said to me, “If you like it so much, why don’t you try the idea?” So I tried supply teaching, and genuinely loved it. You were a supply teacher for three years before joining a teacher training programme. Why did you decide to become a qualified teacher? Last year, a trainee teacher joined the school where I was a supply teacher. We were sharing science classes and I noticed that she took just an hour to plan each lesson, even though she wasn’t a science specialist. I couldn’t fault them. It would take me a whole evening to plan a lesson. I wanted to learn her technique. Despite working in teaching for three years, I felt I was lacking the method to succeed as a teacher.
Has the training made a difference? Enormously. I don’t know how I managed before. It has made my experience much more positive and manageable. Have you found any negatives about being a teacher? What about those rude kids? Yes, kids can be rude, but as a parent you know how their minds work and that when they’re mouthy you shouldn’t take it personally. What would shock a 23-year-old teacher, most parents get every day. As an older teacher you also get more respect. There is a lot of work, but if you’ve worked in the corporate sector you know how to manage your time. Of course my wages are nothing like my GlaxoSmithKline wages, but I’m getting a great sense of satisfaction from this stage in my career. Do you think there’s an advantage coming to teaching with a career in science behind you? Definitely. The knowledge we bring is precious, it adds another dimension. You can teach students that what they’re learning is useful and has been used successfully. I’m not saying it’s easy: it’s very demanding, but you’ll be used to that. The paperwork won’t break your back. Apply now and you could get a £25,000 tax-free bursary to train as a teacher (subject to eligibility, selected subjects only). More at: education.gov.uk/newscientist
From Industry to Education Scientists are making the transition to teaching after successful careers in other industries. But why?
that I joined GlaxoSmithKline and persuaded them to use the solid phase techniques I’d been working on at Roche. I then went to work for Organon at its research facility in Scotland, where I stayed until 2011.
Corinne Kay, 54, joined a teacher training programme in Bedfordshire last year after nearly three decades working in the pharmaceuticals industry. She has a PhD in chemistry, three inventor patents and more than 50 publications to her name – all of which, she says, give her a valuable perspective when teaching physics, chemistry and biology in the classroom. What did you do during your time in pharma? My first job was with Roche in Welwyn Garden City, where I stayed for nine years. I was part of a team that helped pioneer solid phase synthesis at Roche, a technique that Robert Bruce Merrifield had just won a Nobel prize for inventing. We synthesised a large number of compounds in a very short time. One result was the HIV drug saquinavir. After
What made you switch to teaching? When I was working in the pharmaceuticals industry I always fancied teaching. When my daughters were taking their GCSEs I’d organise extra lessons for them and their friends. They did well and always said they wished I was their teacher. So after leaving Organon I thought maybe I should go into teaching. Anyone I told this to said I was mad, that I’d hate it, that kids were rude nowadays, that there was so much pressure. But then my former head of department at GlaxoSmithKline said to me, “If you like it so much, why don’t you try the idea?” So I tried supply teaching, and genuinely loved it. You were a supply teacher for three years before joining a teacher training programme. Why did you decide to become a qualified teacher? Last year, a trainee teacher joined the school where I was a supply teacher. We were sharing science classes and I noticed that she took just an hour to plan each lesson, even though she wasn’t a science specialist. I couldn’t fault them. It would take me a whole evening to plan a lesson. I wanted to learn her technique. Despite working in teaching for three years, I felt I was lacking the method to succeed as a teacher.
Has the training made a difference? Enormously. I don’t know how I managed before. It has made my experience much more positive and manageable. Have you found any negatives about being a teacher? What about those rude kids? Yes, kids can be rude, but as a parent you know how their minds work and that when they’re mouthy you shouldn’t take it personally. What would shock a 23-year-old teacher, most parents get every day. As an older teacher you also get more respect. There is a lot of work, but if you’ve worked in the corporate sector you know how to manage your time. Of course my wages are nothing like my GlaxoSmithKline wages, but I’m getting a great sense of satisfaction from this stage in my career. Do you think there’s an advantage coming to teaching with a career in science behind you? Definitely. The knowledge we bring is precious, it adds another dimension. You can teach students that what they’re learning is useful and has been used successfully. I’m not saying it’s easy: it’s very demanding, but you’ll be used to that. The paperwork won’t break your back. Apply now and you could get a £25,000 tax-free bursary to train as a teacher (subject to eligibility, selected subjects only). More at: education.gov.uk/newscientist