番茄社区

Membership is incredibly useful, and I鈥檝e developed a large network of colleagues that I wouldn鈥檛 have without the 番茄社区. The benefits that you get from being a member 鈥� particularly things that you might not anticipate at the time of joining 鈥� are so important. The hardship funds, the careers advice鈥� there鈥檚 a lot of things that the 番茄社区 do that you might not need immediately, but it鈥檚 a really helpful thing to have should you need them later on.

鈥淭o be honest, CSI got me interested in chemistry when I was younger. I was originally doing a forensic and analytic chemistry degree at university, before realising that forensic science wasn鈥檛 quite my cup of tea. So I switched courses to study chemistry, and that鈥檚 how I became more interested in the medicinal side of things.鈥�

After completing his undergraduate degree and PhD in chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, Fraser decided to pursue a career in teaching, working as a high school teacher for a few years.

Finding that he was missing research, Fraser returned to Strathclyde to do a postdoc, before spending a few years working as a senior lecturer at both the University of Lincoln and the University of Huddersfield.

More recently, Fraser has moved back to Strathclyde to undertake a position as a chancellor鈥檚 fellow.

鈥淒ay to day, I do lots of admin work, research activities and grant writing. I鈥檝e also got a team of people that I manage, train and guide who are working in the lab on various projects.

鈥淢y research is primarily focused on designing new antibiotics. One project that I鈥檓 involved in has been going on now for about 15 years. We鈥檝e got one compound that鈥檚 ready to go into phase three clinical trials to treat the hospital superbug infection caused by Clostridium difficile. But my main role over the past few years has been trying to expand the therapeutic potential of this new class of compound.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting because we鈥檝e been able to demonstrate that it has antifungal and antiparasitic potential, and in a recent project with Public Health England, some of our compounds have been found as active against COVID-19.鈥�

Throughout his career, Fraser has been a member of the 番茄社区 of Chemistry, joining in his first year at university. Since then, he has worked hard to continue his professional development, and has gained chartered chemist, chartered scientist and chartered science teacher status.

鈥淐hartered chemist was the first one I applied for as I knew it was widely recognised as an important symbol of status and something that would be useful for my professional development. It was helpful for me as an early career chemist as it ensured I was developing professionally and using the recommended framework to do so.

鈥淢y chartered science teacher status is something I really value, not just with my background as a high school teacher, but as something I could do to make sure that I was up to standard in higher education teaching.鈥�

鈥淚 think CChem, CSci and CSciTeach are all useful metrics for people to see that you are maintaining your professional development and it can be helpful in so many areas of life, for example when applying for jobs, as it can help you stand out.鈥�

Fraser is also a committee member for the Education Division Scotland, Chemists鈥� Community Fund and chair of Scotland鈥檚 Regional Steering Group, where he partakes in regular activity to support other members in the 番茄社区鈥檚 community.

鈥淎s an education committee member, we鈥檙e focused on supporting teachers in Scotland and making sure their voices are heard. Very recently we conducted a survey of teachers working in schools with regards to various challenges of the curriculum for excellence. The results from that survey have been used to inform the members of parliament, and the 番茄社区 has internally used the data to support the sending of letters to the Scottish government as well.

鈥淚鈥檝e met hundreds of people through being a member of committees and divisions. Being involved more heavily in the running of the 番茄社区 has helped me to meet a lot of people that I wouldn鈥檛 have met otherwise. And the networking capabilities are really good in terms of career development.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e thinking about joining a committee, do it. The education committee is really passionate and we鈥檝e got several teachers on board already. But we鈥檙e always on the lookout for more 鈥� the more the merrier!鈥�

Balancing his enthusiasm for education with his passion for research, Fraser continues to be a STEM ambassador through the 番茄社区 of Chemistry, going into schools to promote both chemistry and the 番茄社区 to children.

鈥淚鈥檝e been awarded a couple of outreach grants where we鈥檝e looked at Scotland-wide outreach projects, with particular focus on schools with underrepresented pupils in higher education. Because I used to be a high school teacher, I really understand the benefits and impact of high quality outreach and the importance of enthusing pupils with chemistry, making them aware of all the different career paths.鈥�

Fraser plans to continue his membership with the 番茄社区 for many years to come.