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Submitted by dario on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:44
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Name: 
Nigel Crossland
Featured Profile: 
No
At A Glance
Licensed Body: 
IBMS
Region: 
North West
Location: 
Cheshire
First Degree: 
Biology
Job: 
Consultant
Age: 
59
Works For: 
self-employed
Pet Hates: 
The belief in theory over informed observation, Dishonesty, Misinformation and belief in popular science (originating from news media). Inexactitude especially in speech and writings.
Burning Ambition: 
To move into a more educational role
Superpower: 
Always knowing where to get the answer from!
Big Picture
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
A scientist
Who or what inspired you to become a scientist? 
Reading about the achievements of great European scientists
What do you love about your job and being a “scientist”? 
To be able to understand through reason
What would you change? 
To start again, but more importantly the question could address what would I not change and the answer would probably be my education, which was follow a “high academic achievement route”
Education
What qualifications did you take at school? 
GCE A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Why did you choose your first degree subject? 
Biological Sciences – because it was a logical progression
Do you have a Masters or PhD? If not, was it difficult to demonstrate Masters-level equivalence in order to achieve CSci? 
My earlier achievements, scope of experience in the discovery and development of several new drugs), and success in publishing articles seem to have counted in my favour
Job
How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party? 
I usually introduce the concept of the need to understand how drugs work and their safety before they can be licensed for use. Then may move into the topic of internationally accepted efficacy and safety standards
What is ‘cutting-edge’ about your work? 
Making the complex simple
What are the biggest implications your work will/could have in the future? 
Contributing towards better understanding of healthcare and the introduction of new drugs
Describe some of the highlights of your average day. 
Achieving successful completion of a project
Describe briefly how your career has progressed to date. 
In my early industrial career I gained experience in both analytical chemistry and biophysical laboratories engaged in the research into the workings of both existing and novel new drugs. I then spent several years working in clinical research as well as learning about the principles and practices of scientific quality and compliance. I briefly spent time as a laboratory safety officer before leaving the security of a big company and starting my own consultancy business. This was a very successful development and resulted in 14 years working for both the UK’s NHS as well as both small and large pharmaceutical companies. Business opportunities arose internationally resulting in me traveling to 22 countries in 4 continents
How do you see your field developing over the next 5-10 years? 
I would like to move into a more educational role with active involvement in publishing
What’s the most unexpected thing about your job? 
That people unfortunately are willing to pay more heed to politics than to listen to advice supported by scientific evidence
What’s the biggest achievement of your career so far? 
Assisting in a very modest way the development of several drugs
Life
Would you say you have a good standard of living/ work-life balance? 
Yes
What do your friends and family think about your job? 
I think many still fail understand. And when people don’t understand something they “switch off” and surround themselves with less demanding gratifications
What kind of hobbies or extracurricular activities do you do to relax? 
Reading, cycling, inventing simple solutions/creations to everyday activities/requirements
CSci
What is the value of professional bodies? 
Accreditation
Advice & Reflection
What words of wisdom would you give someone interested in getting into your field? 
Look for the “big picture” and don’t allow the complexities of science or the regulations to hide the overriding conclusions based on logic
How would you define “professionalism”? 
Performing with honesty and integrity
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