Special reports
Model Mentors
Published on 13 December 2006
Five scientists nominated by their peers have created nurturing research environments and fostered fields and careers far beyond their labs. Carina Dennis and Janet Wright give credit where it's long overdue.
Bio Bonanza
Published on 29 November 2006
Is interest in biofuels in the United States a just fad or a growing trend that will yield numerous jobs and research opportunities? Gene Russo separates the wheat from the chaff.
A jumping off point
Published on 4 October 2006
The recent flood of genome sequences has given evolutionary genetics a boost. Ricki Lewis takes a sharp look at a varied field.
Building a better foundation
Published on 27 September 2006
Europeans have traditionally expected their governments to fund research. But foundations are hoping to play a major new role, says Gene Russo.
Masters of efficiency
Published on 6 September 2006
Manufacturing jobs may be shifting from the large drug companies to contract organizations as firms re-evaluate their strengths. But scientists with analytical skills and an eye for efficiency can find a job transforming materials into medicines, says Hannah Hoag.
From bench to briefs
Published on 2 August 2006
Patent law offers opportunities for those who wish to leave the lab but not science, says Monya Baker.
Trial blazers
Published on 26 July 2006
The drug industry may be going through lean times, as new candidates have to clear ever-higher safety hurdles. But this gives scientists who can steer a drug through clinical trials a head start in the job market, says Hannah Hoag.
Physical exercise
Published on 12 July 2006
The opening of the Large Hadron Collider in Europe will offer high-powered opportunities for particle physicists to decode the mysteries of the Universe. Virginia Gewin finds out more.
Rules rule
Published on 21 June 2006
Regulatory affairs is a young profession that's already making its mark in the world of drug development, where one false move can bring years of research to an unwelcome end. If your skills include communication and leadership, it may be for you, says Hannah Hoag.
Star gazing moves south
Published on 31 May 2006
After years of quasi-colonial treatment from their European partners, local astronomers in Chile and South Africa are coming into their own. Dirk Steuerwald tracks the changing climate for the star-gazers of the south.
Animal intelligence
Published on 24 May 2006
Use of animals for testing early in the drug-development process aims to provide vital information to make new drugs safe and effective — and the process is being constantly refined. Hannah Hoag finds out what is involved.
Talk about toxic
Published on 10 May 2006
They arrive from other disciplines; they spread into distant fields. Toxicology is a voyage of discovery for scientists with diverse skills, including those of communication. Ricki Lewis gets them to open up about it.
Seeing the big picture
Published on 19 April 2006
Creating a new drug is a long and painstaking process, involving the skills and talents of numerous types of scientist, says Hannah Hoag. Each is vital to different stages of producing a drug that's both safe and effective. Drug development draws on various kinds of scientist.
Breaking into business
Published on 5 April 2006
Forget what your mother told you. Scientists looking for jobs in the business world need to learn to talk to strangers, says Monya Baker.
Chemistry's evolution
Published on 15 March 2006
Industry's need to reduce waste and deal with the environmental concerns of consumers is creating demand for cleaner catalysis, says Virginia Gewin.
After-school programmes
Published on 1 March 2006
PhD students, postdocs and even senior scientists are taking continuing-education courses to improve their scientific 'hard skills' or branch out beyond the lab. Robert Rentzsch had a look around to see what's on offer.
Drug hunt
Published on 15 February 2006
In the first of a series of articles on the drug pipeline, Hannah Hoag looks at the opportunities in selecting leads.
Dream big
Published on 18 January 2006
Being an astronaut, video-game designer or museum curator may be every child scientist's dream. Kendall Powell talks to the creative scientists who followed the fantasy.