Caroline Vipond, Bacteriology “STEM is always evolving - you never know what’s round the next corner”
Published 8 March 2023
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Written by Caroline Vipond, Head of Vesicular Vaccines, Vaccine, Research and Development, Science Research and Innovation at MHRA
A career in a STEM field isn’t always easy but I think it’s worth it. It’s important to believe in yourself, and remember - there’s no such thing as a silly question, so always ask as many as you can.
The best thing about a science-based job is our knowledge is always evolving and you never know what might be around the next corner.
I was drawn to a career in public health because I wanted to do a job which would help people. After finishing my degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bath, my first job was for a commercial company. I then joined the MHRA while doing a part-time PhD in the field of outer membrane vesicles at Imperial College London.
My job now is very varied from day to day. For example, today I’m working on a poster which I’ll be presenting at a meeting at the end of February. I also had a meeting with three other scientists from Imperial College, Southampton University, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as we’re all members of a scientific advisory panel for a charity called Meningitis Now. Being the Chairperson of their Scientific and Medical Advisory Panel is one of my proudest career achievements. In between those tasks, I’ve been responding to various queries as and when needed. But Monday will be different again!