David Thomson

Name: David Thomson
Age: 27
Born: Australia
Lived in Scotland: 1 year

"There are only a few clusters of companies across the world working in my area of specialism," explains Australian, David Thomson, "and I have to admit, I didn’t expect to find any in Scotland."

He leans forward and waves a hand in the air enthusiastically.

"But, you know, the very first day I arrived in Scotland I saw an advert for a job that perfectly matched my skill set."

Microsystems

And that’s an impressive coincidence when you realise David’s skill set isn’t all that common. He studied genetics and Microsystems technology in Australia, and works in the area of bio automation.

When he decided to travel the world, his intention to find work as he went along hadn’t been going to plan – until he reached Scotland.

"I'd been to Japan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and all over Europe."

Plan B

"My old boss had given me some contacts in Switzerland but, you know, it just wasn’t really working for me, being in Switzerland. I went to a few labs but nothing clicked."

David’s next stop was London.

"Nothing really turned up in London either. I ended up working as a secretary in a mental health clinic! So I turned to plan B…Scotland.

"I knew Scotland had a reputation for biotechnology and medicine but the very first day I arrived here I saw an ad for a job at Lab 901 – it perfectly matched my skill set."

Innovators in laboratory automation

Lab 901 is an innovative Scottish company developing automatic biotechnology on a micro scale.

"I didn’t get the job but they liked me enough to create a six month contract specially for me."

Three months into the contract, Lab 901 encouraged David to put together an application for a SMART award from the Scottish Government and he successfully bagged £50,000 worth of funding to run a brand new project.

Funding

"The Scottish Government is really focused on supporting and nurturing the high tech industries. If it wasn’t for the SMART award, I literally wouldn’t be in Scotland now."

Lab 901 is using their SMART award to investigate the feasibility of integrating DNA amplification techniques and on-tape fluid managements with the company’s existing Screen Tape® bio-analysis platform.

David has found the perfect niche and he’s enjoying the career opportunities.

World class

"High tech companies in Scotland are world-class. There’s an incredible amount of R&D going on here, lots of investment.

"My project lasts until the end of 2005 and work are sponsoring my application for a work permit.

"I love Scotland. It’s cool. I don’t imagine going home for a while."

He laughs: "Maybe in ten years or so, when I’m 37, I’ve got married and the kids are a few years old…not that I’ve got it all mapped out or anything!"

Find out more about Lab 901:
www.lab901.com

Find out about the SMART award at the Scottish Government website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/support/16879/6782

If you like the sound of working in Scotland, why not find out more about it?