Nicola E.
About me
| Nicola E. | |
| Biology | |
| Molecular Biology | |
| Research Postgraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 2009 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Marketing Communications Leader | |
| GE Healthcare | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Healthcare | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2019 |
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A day in the life of a Marketing Communications Leader in the United Kingdom
I had always enjoyed writing and communicating about science and had been involved with various communications projects during my career. So I decided to take a job as a scientific marketing specialist and see where that took me - I loved it!
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I work for the Pharmaceutical Diagnostics division of GE Healthcare. This part of the business develops imaging agents used by healthcare professionals to help diagnose different diseases, for example Parkinson's disease.
What do you do?
I work with global and regional marketing teams to develop and execute digital, multichannel marketing communication plans within the Pharmaceutical Diagnostics division of GE Healthcare.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
After graduating from York, I continued with both a Masters and PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Cambridge. After this, I spent some time as a postdoctoral research scientist at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Whilst I enjoyed research, I had always enjoyed writing and communicating about science and had been involved with various communications projects during my career. So I decided to take a job as a scientific marketing specialist and see where that took me - I loved it! It allowed me to keep up to date with scientific developments but also write and communicate about science. I've stayed in this type of role (albeit in different companies) ever since.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Absolutely! I thought I would be a research scientist forever, but I never realised that my scientific qualifications would be appreciated in other sectors too.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Probably the day that my first web page went live! I was so happy that something I had written and developed was out in the world for everyone to see.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Yes - I currently work with prescription-only medicines, which means that marketing communications are highly regulated, and the regulations are different for every country in the world.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I live quite far away from the GE Healthcare office so I often work from home, which I really like. Despite whether I'm in the office or working remotely, it's a really fun and friendly atmosphere. I'm very lucky to have such fun work colleagues.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I used to play the clarinet in the university orchestra and I also took language classes. I think these activities helped me understand how to manage my time, but also the importance of switching off and doing something fun and different.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I would like to move to a more senior position where I can manage more junior colleagues.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
I would seriously consider doing as much further study as you can manage. I'm so glad I did a Masters and a PhD after graduation from York because they have accelerated my journey up the career ladder and unlocked positions I wouldn't otherwise have been able to apply for. Once you start a job, you will find it really hard to go back and do further study.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
What is it like to do a PhD?
What is it like being a research scientist?
What does Marketing within science look like?
Or anything else you want to discuss....!
Next steps...
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