Lance McKenzie

From Chemistry and Biotechnology to research strategy—Lance’s evolving interests led to a dynamic career in science policy, funding, and systems thinking.

I always wanted to do science and develop new ideas. I chose Chemistry and Biotechnology because those subjects aligned with my interests in joining theory and fundamental sciences into innovative, practical/applied vehicles and technologies, such as futuristic materials. I completed a double major despite the increased course load as a move towards my long-term aspirations of an academic career in interdisciplinary science, which was still a revolutionary concept at the time. I enjoyed the focused, investigative work and the day-to-day act of conducting experiments at the lab bench.

However, working in science is more than the mechanics of experiment design and testing. It was only after gaining work experience and studying public policy at a postgraduate level that I understood that research exists within the broader learning and operating environment and what that means for a science career: that new ideas and opportunities are based on a revolving cycle of evaluation and improvement.

My first graduate role was as a patent examiner, where I assessed the merits of new inventions against legislative and regulatory requirements. Prior experience in tutoring and customer service during university helped me to communicate clearly and articulate logical thinking in ‘plain language’—skills that are essential to refining and expressing the impact of new scientific advancements, and which can often be neglected when striving solely for academic achievement.

My investigative and systems thinking skills help me to evaluate current and planned programs of work within a broader context for long-term and strategic feasibility, rather than focusing only on the immediate benefits of a given research project. This is the difference between planning one year ahead and planning five to ten years into the future.

My second role has been as a consultant for funding applications and research and development (R&D) projects. I am a key contact for guiding new-entrant researchers and disruptive businesses to deliver innovative new products to market. In my role, I take a whole-system view of the institution of research rather than being tied to a single research topic. I write technical applications across varied scientific fields, including chemistry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, microbiology, health, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, engineering, software, ICT, electrical systems, and construction, vastly beyond my initial career aspirations and original field of study.

These overlapping capabilities related to ‘the business of research’, in addition to my technical background, have enabled me to succeed in research grant and project management. My work is part of a system to make research more accurate and effective, which also includes aspects such as ethics, budgeting, funding, idea framing and pitching, partnerships, project management, publication, outreach and communication, and commercialisation. Research does not exist in a vacuum, and any shifts in the broader operating environment put pressure on it. Global political and market changes directly affect the availability of funding, participation in, and trust of research. Research management aims to forecast these risks and mitigate their impacts during planning or when they arise unexpectedly.

The cycle of learning is never complete, and creating 'new knowledge' does not necessarily mean instant 'uptake' for it in the greater environment. I have found that the capabilities that you develop are what stay with you after study, rather than the recall of specific facts, because they are needed across all your future roles, and not only for where you are today. Reflecting on my career so far, my advice would be that your first aspiration may not be fully fleshed out, and that is simply the nature of science: revision. While I planned my study to work in science, I was not aware of the broader research management environment. My interests changed, and I have gained many more opportunities by studying and working in a range of complementary fields.