Keith Stephenson, Researcher, Scripps Research Institute, LaJolla, California
Microbiology BSc Honours (1992), PhD, Molecular Microbiology (1996)
Scripps is located in LaJolla on the Pacific coast just north of San Diego in southern California and is surrounded by numerous research institutes and biotechnology companies (hence San Diego's suitably tacky nickname of 'Biotech' Beach). My new lab was to be that of Professor James A Hoch who is a world renowned scientist in the field of bacterial signal transduction. The international reputation of Scripps combined with that of my potential boss meant that the job offer was hard to turn down and a move to the USA would, I hoped, facilitate my scientific education and my long-term goal of a good academic position back in the UK.
Career History: After a degree in Microbiology Keith stayed in his home town of Newcastle where he gained a PhD and and then spent three years as a postdoc with Dr Colin Harwood, investigating protein secretion in Bacillus subtilis. He started as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Scripps Institute in June 1999.
To anybody considering a postdoc in the States I can honestly recommend it for the experience and the education, but go prepared to work hard. There seem to be a lot more opportunities for biological scientists in the States and particularly in San Diego. These opportunities, combined with the better salary, the weather and the great scuba diving make the decision to return to the UK a difficult one for me.....After all, San Diego is a long way from the bars of Newcastle and the sacred turf of St James' Park.
