The Academia to Industry Journey Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper, Director and Head of Protein Science at Charm Therapeutics, joined us for a Q&A session to share his experience with moving from academia to industry.
What prompted you to move from academia to industry? I’d always had an industrial slant to my work, having been involved in protein expression and purification in various research projects as a PhD and postdoc, but working in industry had always previously seemed like a back-up if academia didn’t go well. I did in fact manage to set up my own research lab as a Senior Lecturer – but an opportunity came up for a senior position at Peak Proteins, a contract research company I’d been interested in for a while, so I thought I’d apply. To be honest I also wanted some extra stability and a better work-life balance than academia can sometimes offer, having become a parent. When moving from academia to industry, what were you worried about? I was concerned that there would be a loss of independence in my research as an academic, as I could follow whatever interested me if I could secure funding for it. However, in my role as an industry cancer drug discovery specialist, I have the opportunity to contribute to all stages of the pipeline, which is very fulfilling. What in your career helped your move to industry? My career path has been like semi-directed Brownian motion. It has moved in and out of different areas as opportunities arose, and I have taken advantage of them. I have made choices based on my interests and what I believed would help me gain relevant skills. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, then went on to earn a PhD in Engineering Science, before reskilling slightly with a master’s degree in Bioinformatics. This master’s degree has perhaps helped me more than anything else I have done in some respects. Having computer literacy and coding skills has made my CV stand out. I believe that the idea of ‘speculating to accumulate’ is important in your career, and I am always striving to upskill with each new role I take. For example, even though I am no longer in academia, I am still involved with the Microbiology Society and other societies, and I serve as a journal editor, all of which bring additional translational skills.
What should early career academics be thinking about if they think they may want to move into industry? If something interests you, go for it, because you never know where it will lead, especially if it is outside of your comfort zone. I became Chair-Elect of the Prokaryotic Division at the Microbiology Society because I stepped forward and offered to serve in this role. It is important to be enthusiastic. Developing other skills can pique employers’ interests, so get involved in anything you are interested in. That is the most important message I want to convey. You must be practical. Take advantage of all opportunities that come your way – review papers, offer to lecture for someone else, attend courses, seek out opportunities, and demonstrate that you are doing more than just research. But, don’t forget to enjoy it!
Chris Cooper Director and Head of Protein Science Charm Therapeutics
chris@charmtx.com
28 Microbiology Today May 2023 | microbiologysociety.org
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