Meet three women who have
embarked on careers in the
biotechnology industry. This
program profiles Allison Ross, a
chemist and research
technician who analyzes test
samples; Sylvie Bilodeau-
Goeseels, a research scientist
tasked with improving cow
fertility; and Dia Matheos, Vice
President of Research and
Development at a biotech firm. Remarks from co-workers
and supervisors provide additional layers to the descriptions of each job. View a
preview video clip and read below for descriptions of each segment, or scroll to
the bottom to order!
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In the medical and biotechnology field,
analyzing patient samples quickly and
accurately - not to mention cost effectively
- is critical. Testing software developed for
this purpose is a key ingredient of Allison
Ross's job as chemist and research
assistant for Chenomx Inc. Chenomx
designs software, mainly for biotechnology
companies in the human health sector.
During university, Allison sampled professional science as an intern for the petroleum industry. Turns out it was the right "chemistry" for a full-time job in biotechnology. The experience she is now getting at Chenomx, integrating health science with software programming, is a great step forward in career growth.
Biotechnology is a challenging field. You need to be
hard-working, eager to learn and intellectually curious in order to understand and apply the concepts of science. “I've always enjoyed chemistry. It was my favorite subject in high school, along with the other sciences. I always knew I wanted to do sciences.”
Allison has a number of responsibilities at
Chenomx. She looks after the safety of the lab, updates safety references, tests
the software, works with the development team to create a database of
elements, assists in chemistry research and more.
In chemistry, not only do you need to understand formulas, reactions, elements
and their properties, you need the right tools to get the job done. Allison's work
would be impossible to complete without the sophisticated array of equipment
at her fingertips.
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Research scientist Sylvie Bilodeau-Goeseels works at the Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada's Lethbridge Research Centre. Her on-the-job mission is to improve cow fertility and reduce the incidence of embryonic mortality through in vitro fertilization.
Embryonic mortality is one of the factors responsible for reproductive failure
which causes major economic loss to beef producers. So far, there are no
specific interventions designed to prevent embryonic mortality, other than good
management practice. Little is known about numerous reasons for embryonic
mortality and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of a
fertilized egg.
The challenge researchers like Sylvie face today is
to find out how embryos develop, what happens at
all stages of development, what happens when
embryos die, why they die and what can be done
about it. “Sometimes you wonder for a long time:
"How does this work?" And suddenly you have an
answer. This is all very exciting.”
Along with scientific work, Sylvie's job includes
business management. In a team of scientists, Sylvie comes up with new
projects, proposes them to the government, secures funding, manages
resources and publishes results in scientific journals.
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When Dia Matheos talks about getting some new genes, she's probably not talking about the kind you wear. Dia is a Vice President of research and development with the biotech firm, Replicor. She leads a team of people and works hands-on, creating DNA products. These are licensed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for a variety of applications. In the long run, her work benefits patients and increases the cost effectiveness of treatment.
Dia has always been fascinated by sciences in the human health sector. After
completing her BA in microbiology and gaining volunteer experience in this
field, she was determined to pursue a PhD in biochemistry. She excelled in her
doctoral thesis, the topic of which was very much in line with Replicor's
research. Dia's professor, also a co-founder of Replicor, was impressed and the
company hired Dia full-time.
Science is always evolving. It is difficult to
predict what Dia will be doing in two weeks
because her future tasks depend on the results
she gets today. Her work is always different,
which is one reason why Dia finds it so
interesting. "What I enjoy most about my job is
the fact that it never becomes routine. There's
always some sort of excitement."
Click the image to the left
for a preview video clip!
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Developed in 2006 in Canada, the Career Options for Women series is an
outstanding resource for schools wanting to attract women and girls to Science,
Technology and Trades!
Please Note: These videos are an excellent depiction of women in these jobs
and are interspersed with Canadian salary and labor statistics, which are
similar to the numbers in the United States. As there is a no-return policy on
these publications, please make sure to look at the preview video clip for the
DVD(s) you are ordering.
Pricing - Career Options for Women: Emerging Technologies DVDs
