The scientist's art

What were your favourite subjects at school?

Science and art. I was very keen on art but I had to give it up after O-level to make time for my science studies. I became particularly interested in biology - the great thing about biological science is that it enables me to carry on creating pictures, so there is still a bit of artistic influence.

As a child what did you think you would end up doing as a career?

My dad was always keen for me to be an architect and I certainly didn't think I would make a career in science.

Even when I was finishing my PhD, I was very undecided about whether I should carry on with science, or switch to something completely different.

Did you have a part-time job as a teenager and what did it teach you?

At one point I worked in a betting shop, which was probably good for my mental maths.

While at school did you do any work experience - was it useful?

I was at school in rural North Devon and there weren't really any opportunities around that appealed to me.

Did you attend university or further education establishment - if so, what course did you study?

My first degree was biophysics at King's College in London. The course was organised by Maurice Wilkins, who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work on the structure of DNA.

What are your qualifications and did they help you in your choice of career?

I have a degree in biophysics and I did a PhD at Bristol University in biochemistry. They both helped fuel my interest in a career in science.

What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include?

After my PhD at Bristol, I moved to Oxford University to be a post-doc scientist in David Phillips' Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics. By this time I had already decided that I wanted to go and work in China, but it took a couple of years to sort out. I went to China in 1981, and there were very few western people working there in a job that wasn't either connected with diplomacy, or the media.

The Chinese were very interested in research into insulin, because they were keen to synthesise it, rather than make it from natural sources.

They wanted to know whether they had got it right and whether it was safe to use, so they needed to look at its structure, which is where I came in.

How much was in your first pay packet and what did you spend it on?

I have no idea!

Describe your career path in the following years.

After China, I was pleased to be offered a temporary job back at Oxford University and I returned expecting not to stay very long but became involved in some interesting projects. One was foot and mouth disease research, working to try to develop and improve vaccines for the disease.

I was awarded a permanent job as a lecturer at the university, which gave me a base to build up a team and work on some of those projects. Most people thought it would be impossible to map the structure of the foot and mouth disease virus, but we worked very hard and developed safe protocols for analysing the virus. We then managed to map the structure. This was only possible because the first UK light source, in Daresbury, was online and this meant we could use it to see' the structure in ways that had never been possible before.

That was my introduction to the world of light sources like Diamond, and what they can do for biology. Since then I have been very interested in trying to do things that are on the limit of what's possible, and get a real kick out of pushing the technology.

That has led me to use other light sources, wherever the best facilities are. That is why I have been an enthusiastic supporter of building a new light source in the UK, which has now turned into Diamond.

In my role as life sciences director, I would like to see the facility helping scientists to be as good as any in the world.

What do you think of Oxfordshire as a place to live and work?

The first ten years of my life were spent in Lancashire and I must admit I found Oxford a bit posh and intimidating. Having got over this initial impression, it is a very good place to be if you're doing science. With Oxford University and now with Diamond, the difficulty is thinking of anywhere else one would go.

Who and/or what has been the biggest influence on your career?

A lot of people in science for the love of what they do and that's a very powerful influence.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Balancing science against other things in life.

Is there any other job you would rather have done and why?

When I was doing my first degree, early on in the course I wasn't doing particularly well and I remember going to see my tutor and he said: "Well you know, you're good at art . . . have you thought about going into advertising?" I think it was the challenge to prove him wrong that made me focus on doing better in science!

Do you have any hobbies and what do you enjoy doing most?

I had a lot of hobbies when I was a kid and now I've got several children, so I carry on with them, which is great fun.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

I've always loved to travel, so I try to go somewhere different each time. That's one of the great things about being in science - it's a very international activity but often you don't have long enough to see everything.

Do you have a philosophy which you follow in your life/job?

I try to live up to the ideals that others have inspired me with.

Have you got any plans for retirement?

Oh no. That's a long way off yet!