[Chef]

Hello Ajiver

I have contacted you by PM before but was wondering how your job hunting efforts were getting on.

I have a masters degree in chemistry and have been working for a pharmaceuticals company for the last 20 years (time flies when you are having fun) doing chemical research in synthetic organic chemistry.

I haven't noticed there being a huge demand for chemistry graduates and doctorates in our industry because there is huge pressure on the drugs companies due to outside factors. The bottom line is that the companies need to get more results with fewer scientists and there has been a huge increase in the use of robotics in our labs over the last 6 years (and 10% of our scientists being made redundant two years ago).

One of those people that was made redundant used to be my supervisor. He now works for the Cancer Research Council doing chemical research at Kingston uni. He is an EXTREMELY bright guy (fellow of the royal society, writer of the RSC hetrocyclic review for many years, forgotten more chemistry than most of us will ever know), so if he can be made redundant then no one is safe.

Have you considered working for someone like the Cancer Research Trust? One of the great things about having a job in a place like Kingston is that you would be very near the west London dance hot house scene.

Have you considered the specialist scientific staff recruitment agencies?

Best wishes to all you job hunters.