About CSci

Submitted by dario on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 12:44
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Image: 
Name: 
Rick Morris
Featured Profile: 
No
At A Glance
Licensed Body: 
RSC
Scientist Type: 
Business/marketing
Region: 
International
Location: 
USA
First Degree: 
BSc Colour Chemistry & Polymer Science.
Job: 
S.V.President Membrane Development
Age: 
48
Home: 
Orlando , Florida
Works For: 
Pall LifeSciences, Pall Corporation
Qualifications: 
BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA
Pet Hates: 
Clutter
Burning Ambition: 
Invent more
Superpower: 
Ability to see into the future
Big Picture
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
Scientist – Inventor.
Who or what inspired you to become a scientist? 
Chemistry Kit.
What do you love about your job and being a “scientist”? 
Ability to make new things that contribute to a better world
What would you change? 
Limitations on funding for new ideas
Education
What qualifications did you take at school? 
O – levels (11), A –levels (3) maths, physics, chem
Why did you choose your first degree subject? 
Colour Chemistry & Polymer Science. Courtaulds recommended I take the course as part of my Industrial Sponsorship Program.
Do you have a Masters or PhD? If not, was it difficult to demonstrate Masters-level equivalence in order to achieve CSci? 
Yes to both
Job
How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party? 
R&D Manager
What is ‘cutting-edge’ about your work? 
Virus filtration, protein separation and detection
What are the biggest implications your work will/could have in the future? 
Safer pharmaceuticals, improved diagnostic kits
Describe some of the highlights of your average day. 
Review of projects and innovations, trouble shooting problems
Describe briefly how your career has progressed to date. 
Dev scientist, pilot plant mgr, chief chemist, director of plant, general mgr of plant, sales and marketing SVP, to SVP development
How is your job cross-disciplinary? 
Polymer, biochemical, microbiology and engineering are all involved in making membranes suitable for pharmaceutical filtration and diagnostic use
How well is your job compensated? What is the starting salary for your field, and how much can this be expected to rise? 
OK. What is the starting salary for someone in your field, and how much can this be expected to rise? Approx $75K for Ph.D. 3-5% year increases merit. Higher if promoted to higher technical or management level
How do you see your field developing over the next 5-10 years? 
Finer and finer filtration with more selectivity
What’s the most unexpected thing about your job? 
After 20 years I still enjoy membrane developmen
What’s the biggest achievement of your career so far? 
17 patents
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? 
Impressed
What kind of hobbies or extracurricular activities do you do to relax? 
No longer play rugby – but still watch games when I can. Swim frequently. Philately is a passion – mainly British and Australian
CSci
Why did you choose to apply for CSci and what do you value most about being a Chartered Scientist? 
In order to maintain credibility in the Scientific community both in the US and Europe etc
What is the value of professional bodies? 
Access to a larger pool of talent and opinions with similar outlooks for life and Science
How important is CPD? What do you think of the revalidation process in ensuring that CSci is a mark of current competence? 
Every year may be a bit cumbersome but definitely need to have a revalidation process
Advice & Reflection
What words of wisdom would you give someone interested in getting into your field? 
Take as many science courses as possible at school and at University make sure you include statistics and statistical methods – all become relevant with time
How important is the mentoring process in your field and to you personally? 
I have been lucky to have been mentored by some very talented individuals during my career – most notable Prof J.Guthrie of Leeds University and Dr Clint Kopp previously of Memtec
How would you define “professionalism”? 
The ability to be credible, ethical and respectful of others
What would you do differently if you were starting out in your career now? 
Nothing
What would you like people to remember about your life as a scientist? 
Problem solving and innovation
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