1. Early careers in medical research Jim Smith Director, MRC National Institute for Medical Research Deputy CEO and Chief of Strategy, Medical Research Council

2. The Strategic Plan: training MRC will: Nurture and support the next generation of research leaders in discovery science Develop and foster innovative and creative researchers Strengthen and sustain a skilled workforce

3. MRC investment in training, 2012/13 MRC research expenditure Fellowships and studentships* £766.9m £71.3m *Excluding students, CDFs, PLTs at Units and Institutes

4. MRC Fellowships: March 2013

5. Discovery science: CRISPR Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats Discovered in E. coli in 1987 Acquired immune system that ‘chops up’ invading viral DNA Allows one to make precise cuts in a cell’s DNA May provide a new way to treat genetic disorders, HIV…

6. Discovery science: CRISPR Jennifer Doudna, UC Berkeley Emmanuelle Charpentier, Umeå University

7. Keeping women in science At a recent Fellows’ meeting: 57 men and 40 women (59% and 41%) By the time they reach professorial level, 41% will have fallen to 14% Athena SWAN charter is one approach We need to address diversity too

8. The Francis Crick Institute: career structure Scientists will be recruited to group leader positions at early stages in their careers They will have 12 years stable funding, with a mid-term review This long period will make it easier to take parental leave Parental leave will be added onto the contract period After 12 years researchers will leave to take up leadership positions elsewhere

9. Finally—and this applies to all… Take the initiative in your career Think ahead Find and use mentors, both locally and (for example) in the Academy of Medical Sciences See what’s already available—it’s often more than you think Be imaginative—propose solutions to your Department Head Talk to other scientists in other fields Go for it