Profile – Drug Synthesis

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

Queen’s University Belfast, 2001-2005
Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science with Honours
Work History:

Randox, Biosearch
Current Job:

Senior Analytical Chemist-Mass Spectrometry
Employer:

Almac Group

Favourite thing to do in science: The best thing about science is the variety of the challenges I face on a daily basis, no two days are ever the same! New and exciting challenges are always close and it is great knowing I am helping so many people around the globe.
My work

I work in Pharmaceuticals, from early stage development to advanced clinical trials!
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I lead a small team of analytical chemists and using mass spectrometry techniques I work on projects that encompass the entire drug discovery pathway from early stage lab synthesis looking at specific routes and what is the most effective in terms of maximising catalyst efficiency and recovery right through to troubleshoot identity of impurities in formulations right through to monitoring degradation products in finished products. My job is incredibly wide ranging, in the morning I could be at plant looking at the tonne-scale production of a finished product and in the afternoon in the lab with an early stage synthesis of only a few milligrams. It makes every day fun and exciting.
My Typical Day

This does not exist in my job! Everyday is like a box of chocolates….
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You just never know what you are going to get, I could be working on my own project or there could be immediate action action to be attended to in the scale-up plant where they make 100’s of grams to kilograms to even tonne’s of materials! I may be required to troubleshoot. I do a lot of in-house training and give presentations and teaching on Mass Spectrometry so I could be organising my teaching materials or I may even be in the lab, developing a new bespoke experiment! I just never know when I walk through that door, all I know it is going to be a fun ride!!
What I'd do with the money

Engage and promote Chemistry
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I organise and run numerous school projects already in Northern Ireland and the money would help me to run even more.
My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Enthusiastic, Focused and Stubborn
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Any Dance Music
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Fillet Steak
  
  What is the most fun thing you've done?
  
  Climbing mountains in France
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  An Engineer
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  Not often but maybe ask my teachers!!
  
  What was your favourite subject at school?
  
  Chemistry and Maths
  
  What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?
  
  So many milestones, so hard to pick just one.
  
  What or who inspired you to become a scientist?
  
  My A-level Chemistry Teacher
  
  If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?
  
  Teacher
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  Two fish in a tank, one said to other “How do you drive this thing?”
My profile link:
https://drugn15.imascientist.ie/profile/markcollins/

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