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Interview
with Jamie Morrison When Jamie Morrison was pursuing her four-year Microbiology degree, she expected to land a position in the exciting world of scientific research. She soon discovered the cold, hard fact that finding a job in laboratory sciences without hands-on skills was next to impossible. Not only did Jamie acquire the hands-on skills
demanded in the field of Biotechnology, she now advocates that others
interested in Biotechnology attend two-year Biotechnology certification
courses to learn hands-on skills rather than focusing on getting 4-year
degrees. About her own experience, Jamie says, “I had a BA in Microbiology and never had exposure to the practical, hands-on aspect. So I joined a hands-on medical technician program where I spent two years in a clinical setting focused on learning the techniques. Other students in the program had a hard time getting employment because they didn’t have the hands-on skills required to performbasic laboratory tasks.” To further her career, Jamie researched and enrolled in the Shoreline Community College Biotechnology Specialist Program to acquire more of the practical skills she needed. Once she completed the two-year program, Jamie began working at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research facility as a Laboratory Assistant in Media Preparation and Glassware Facility. Today Jamie is a Quality Control Senior Associate in the Biologics Production Facility, where she hires and supervises other Biotechnology Lab Technicians and interns. “From time to time we hire interns from the area’s two-year Biotechnology Specialist programs. After hiring and working with the first intern from one of these programs, I wished I that had changed my educational program when I was first starting out. The hands-on skills these interns come out with prepare them to be valuable on the job immediately. I’m familiar with Bates Technical College’s program as well as the ones at Seattle Central Community College and Shoreline Community College. I would consider new employees and interns from all of them. “These two-year biotechnology certifications are really focused on supporting the biotech industry. They offer a great starting place. The graduates hire in with the basic lab skills they need. They know dilutions inside and out. They’re used to working with percentages and have good basic math skills. They can formulate chemical solutions. It’s a great jumping off point. They have not only scientific skills, but they generally have some basic computer technology skills as well as general administrative skills. “Jobs at the ‘bench’ are always going to be there to support the laboratory’s work. Lab assistants will always be hired in greater numbers than the more advanced positions. We have shared resources here, which is a big draw for people getting into the field because we provide support functions for a variety of investigators. You can learn so much. The entire facility supports a range of different fields. “A person with a degree in Direct Molecular Biology would seek a job focused on performing a more specific task, but a person with a two-year certificate would start in a more general role such as what we offer. Then if they want to advance into research, they may need to memorize cell cycles and continue their education. “Interns are a great thing in the Fred Hutchinson environment. We run a clean room and train our interns in gowning and aseptic techniques. We know that the time you invest in training interns will be directly proportionate to what you get back. If I’m training an intern on techniques I’ve been doing for the last five years, I need to pull out the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to be sure I’m not just stuck in my old habits and getting a little off course. Training and having the intern ask questions forces me to double check my own procedures. “The intern provides a fresh pair of eyes. Everyone has to start somewhere, and helping someone get started pays off in ways I know will support the lab in the long run. If you think you’re going to have to spend too much time training a new person, you may need to consider the skills you are going to be gaining. Even if you hire an intern who doesn’t work out, you’d run into the same thing if you hired a permanent employee. This way, you get to try someone out for a small investment of resources that may pay off a lot in the long run.” |
