Getting back into the lab – it’s not out of reach

Returning to the lab after a career break is notoriously challenging, but with the Daphne Jackson Trust, such a pause certainly does not mean a career end, says return-to-worker Susan MacDonald. After completing her PhD, MacDonald worked as an assay development scientist at pharmaceutical company Organon, focusing on neuropsychiatric disorders.

However, when her husband's job relocation forced her to give up her position, she decided to take a 5-year break from research. She retrained as a teacher but soon realized this career path was not fulfilling. After leaving teaching, MacDonald applied to the Daphne Jackson Trust and completed a three-year part-time fellowship at the CRUK Beatson Institute Drug Discovery Unit.

Despite the initial shock of returning to research after nine years, MacDonald discovered that she missed the environment and had developed rusty skills. The therapeutic area she explored was new and challenging, but being back in a research setting was rewarding. MacDonald felt lacking in confidence when she returned to the lab, struggling to remember technical and transferable skills.

She needed guidance from her team, which was a challenge as she had worked independently for most of her career. The Daphne Jackson Trust's support package, including research proposal guidance, a dedicated Fellowship Advisor, focused training courses, and network opportunities, was invaluable. MacDonald emerged with renewed confidence in her abilities, proving that a career break does not mean a career end.

Organizations like the DJT provide the support needed for returning scientists to make a significant contribution, demonstrating that with the right guidance, career breaks can lead to successful and fulfilling careers.