Case studies: University lecturer: Dr. Tarit K. Mukhopadhyay

Tarit is a lecturer in the vaccine bioprocess development at University College London. He has an MEng, as well as a EngD, in Biochemical Engineering.

I was always strong in science. I found it naturally interesting and at A-level took the three sciences and maths. I guess I knew early on I wanted a career in science - and healthcare. My parents encouraged me to become a doctor - my dad was a GP - but I opted to go down the research route instead, which I thought would be more interesting. And that's the way it's turned out, I'm pleased to say. I love my job.

As a lecturer in a heavily orientated research department, I get to study different diseases and pursue different research goals. I'm currently working on a combined vaccine for Hepatitis A and B and a vaccine for Japanese encephalitis, to name but two... and I also seem to be a commentator for swine flu, appearing on TV and in the media. It's great to have a job where you feel you are making a genuine, important contribution to society.

There are two aspects to the role: the research itself; and the dissemination of that research to other institutes. We need to keep everyone informed about the research we're doing, so there's a skill in communicating it to a wide variety of people and organisations.

After A-levels, I went to University College London to study biochemical engineering. Then, for my Masters, I went to the University of Massachusetts; returned and was offered a joint engineering doctorate with UCL and the Government's Health Protection Agency, which I completed in 2007.

My route into vaccine development started there. I was originally headhunted by Merck & Co, the US pharmaceutical company, but then UCL offered me a post as a lecturer. This is a fairly secure career, because the biotech and biopharma industry is relatively robust. In an economic downturn, the government still needs to spend money on healthcare and most of the big pharma companies are continually scouting for graduates. I also like the freedom of being able to switch from academia to commercial R&D.

To be a medical researcher you need, obviously, a good grounding in the sciences and maths. Coupled with that, you need quickdraw thinking and the ability to apply your knowledge in a meaningful way. We'll come across problems on a day-to-day basis where things aren't working out as they should; for example, a vaccine may not be as effective as we'd hoped and we have to figure out why. Logical, progressive, critical thinking is vital. You also need to have an understanding of the business environment, know your market and you need to be legally savvy, too, in terms of intellectual property rights and confidentiality of the research you're conducting.

If you want to go into research proper, there's really no substitute for a PhD or an EngD, and all of my friends and peers have followed the postgrad route. PhDs are usually three years long, but the EngD is four years. What the EngD does, however, is guarantee an industrial collaborator, which means you essentially work with them gaining a year's worth of valuable industrial experience.