Brendan Haigh
Scientist
Molecular Biology
"Science is a great career if you like to travel - you can study or work all around the world"
Biographical Information
"As a scientist you are responsible for finding out new knowledge for the rest of the community; that's quite a responsibility but it's exciting to be the person doing it."
AgResearch Post Doctoral Fellow Dr Brendan Haigh says he was always interested in the natural world and how it all worked.
"I wanted to be a zoologist and spend my time scuba diving and exploring jungles, but I think it was the first year genetics labs at university that shifted me into molecular biology."
"The first experiment was changing the genetic makeup of a strain of bacteria; I thought that was pretty amazing for day one."
Brendan describes himself as a molecular biologist studying cells, proteins and genes and is currently investigating how the body detects and fights invading organisms such as bacteria.
He says his career highlights to date include an intense and satisfying time working in a lab focused on developing a cure for a fatal genetic condition and spending three years working in labs as part of an international team in Vancouver, Canada, and Sydney, Australia.
"Science is a great career if you like to travel; you can study and work all around the world."
Brendan says he knew in primary school that he wanted to be a scientist and says he was interested in science at school and it only got more exciting when he got to university.
"It's important to develop a broad skill base at secondary school; although my biology and chemistry was developed and extended at university, I rely every day on the maths, physics and English skills I learnt at secondary school."
Brendan says his pastimes, mountain biking, climbing and skiing, are of great importance to him.
"I'd go mad if I couldn't do these things in my spare time; they provide a challenge outside of work and are a good opportunity to blow off steam after a week in the lab."
Brendan says there are many things about his job that make it a great career.
"In science you spend a lot of time thinking about things but it is also very hands on and practical and I like that mix."
"I also enjoy the flexibility of the job; I work my own hours so I can fit work around the other things I like doing in my life, if it's a beautiful day I'll go out for a big bike ride at lunchtime then work a bit later to catch up."