Most scientists approach their craft with a tight focus on a particular area of science. But a few, such as Eric Staeva-Vieira, take a broader view, trawling the vast sea of science to understand its role in society. In plotting his own course, Staeva-Vieira has helped make the less-travelled route a little easier for like-minded scientists. (see CV)

When Staeva-Vieira was an undergraduate studying molecular biology, an adviser handed him a copy of The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett, which sparked his interest in public health and emerging diseases. This led him to start a doctorate in parasitology at New York University's School of Medicine. While there, he became so intrigued with the impact that the Human Genome Project could have on drug and therapy development that he completed a PhD in developmental genetics.

To understand not only the scientific but also the ethical and social implications of the project, he sought the counsel of the university's famed science-and-society expert Dorothy Nelkin — a move that confirmed his broad view of science. “I think scientists should be more involved in politics, business and legal discussions,” says Staeva-Vieira.

Eager to show the impact that non-bench scientists can have — and help graduate students and postdocs grapple with similar career issues — he took a position as manager of the Science Alliance career-development programme at the New York Academy of Sciences. There, he helped to create a successful business training course, and sought to dismiss the myth that career transitions require multiple degrees. Courses in finance and economics helped to prepare him for his role at Rodman and Renshaw, an early-stage technology-investment firm in New York.

“My goal is to get an inside view of industry,” he says, adding that gaining insight into early-stage technologies, such as therapies using RNA interference, is exciting.

“I look for opportunities,” Staeva-Vieira says. “I'm constantly trying to figure out what skill set I should get next.” His ultimate goal, he says — combining all the skills he's honed throughout his career — will probably be a position in the nexus between the non-profit and for-profit world, seeking solutions to global health problems.

A firm believer that scientists can contribute more than R&D, he says that the decision to pursue a non-traditional track is a difficult one, fraught with fear of the unknown. “The challenge,” he says, “is staying true to your gut.” And recognizing when, if you stayed on the traditional path, you'd be a fish out of water.