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Stuart is a professor in Anatomy and Human Biology at the University of Western Australia. He is a biologist with an interest in digital imaging. |
In which area or areas of science do you work?
Biological imaging - I am director of the Lotteries funded Image Acquisition and Analysis Facility in UWA
Neuroscience - I have a lab investigating regeneration of the spinal cord, and measurement of blood flow in the brain after stroke.
I teach the philosophy and history of science, generic scientific skills, neuroscience and neuroanatomy.
I am also involved in a number of art and community projects involving the use of biological imagery. (We recently put on an exhibition called Art in Science and work regularly with Scitech, a discovery centre for children in Perth)
When did you first become interested in this career?
As long as I can remember. I have always been curious about animals.
What education and training do you have to have for your job?
A levels in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
BA in Zoology, St. Catherine's College, Oxford.
MA and PhD (subject formation of specific nerve connections in regeneration and development of the visual system).
Post docs in Salt Lake City, Utah (with Marcus Jacobson); Seattle, Washington and Charleston, South Carolina, with Ray Lund.
25 years of working with computers from PDP11s to Silicon Graphics O2.
How long did it take you to get the necessary qualifications?
Never really stops. Officially when I finished my PhD in 1980 (when I was 28) Most people do a few years post doctoral before their first permanent job at lecturer level.
How has your career progressed?
Post doctoral to Lecturer A (in Dundee, Scotland), then lecturer B (12 years) Then Senior Lectureship in Perth, Western Australia.
What are the tasks that you do in a typical day?
Check my e-mail, meet with my postgrad students to see how they are going, advise them on what to do next. See the manager of the Image Acquisition and Analysis Facility to discuss ongoing projects, meet with clients and discuss their imaging needs and experimental design to work in the Image Acquisition and Analysis Facility. Departmental meetings to discuss anything from curriculum changes to fund raising for the department. Edit papers that I am submitting or joint authoring with students or colleagues. Write grants for funding. Work on experiments, image analysis. Talk to artists using my equipment and materials about their work. Discuss forthcoming exhibitions.
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Left: A typical aspect of my job - teaching a class using computer based instruction. Right: The research laboratory |
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What skills do you use in your job?
Communication skills, people management skills. Knowledge of biology and computing.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The constant variation and challenges. The excitement of raising funds, discovering new things. The fact that I am essentially my own boss and can decide each day what I want to do. Never bored!
What is the most exciting aspect of your job?
Succeeding in obtaining a large grant or contract. A new discovery. Seeing your work in print or on display.
What do you enjoy least about your job?
The continual cuts and changes in government policy leading to vast piles of paperwork, fewer and fewer people doing the same amount of work.
What are some alternative jobs that you would be qualified for?
Systems analyst, business man, teacher, consultant. Apart from computing too specialised for much else!
What are some of the advantages to working in this field?
Cutting edge, "hot" field. Changes weekly. Obvious motivation (to get people out of wheel chairs)
What are some of the disadvantages to working in this field?
Great competition. Expensive. Equipment is obsolete in six months.
How has your work contributed to science?
Numerous papers on nerve regeneration in international journals. Main discoveries, the role of fibre order in guiding where nerve fibres grow. The discovery that in development fibres grown from one eye to the other as well as to the brain. More than 60 scientists use the IAAF for projects from muscular dystrophy to pearl fishing.
How has your work benefited society?
With many others around the world we are working towards a "cure" for spinal and other central nervous system injuries.
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A subtraction angiogram showing the blood vessels at the base
of the brain. We are developing a method of superimposing an ultrasound probe trace on top of this image so that the clinician can tell exactly where his probe (used for measuring blood flow) is pointed. |
| A regenerated spinal cord showing disordered fibre growth |  |
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Hopefully the head of a thriving centre for biological imaging.
Hopefully a professor!
Alternatively, running a successful biomedical company.
Find out more about Anatomy and Digital Imaging
If you wish to ask Stuart for additional information, you can email UniServe Science and we will contact Stuart for you. Make sure you include Stuart's name and occupation in the Subject line.
You can find out more about Anatomy and Digital Imaging from Milwaukee School of Engineering
Useful Links for Anatomy and digital imaging
Biological Imaging Center, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology
Concepts in Digital Imaging Technology from Microscopy Primer
| For further information contact Kaye Placing |
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