Aldos Edwin Guiducci, Research
Chemist
 Where
do you work?
I recently completed a Marie Curie Industry Host Post-Doctoral
Fellowship with Shell International Chemicals in Amsterdam.
I am currently seeking a new position in the chemical industry,
in which I can build on my ex periences so far.
What was it like working abroad?
Different to what I expected. Moving from university to industry
would be enough of a culture shock, but to try it in another
country really took it a step further. The language barrier
was not as big as I thought it would be (the Dutch are rightly
renowned for speaking English), but it still tended to crop
up — particularly in the little things.
How did industry compare to academia?
Very different in terms of motivation and style. The work
was much more product-driven, and there was a cut-off after
which academic rigorousness could be sacrificed in the interests
of building a product that worked. A much wider interest in
what has been published outside the mainstream scientific
journals was also evident in industry. Another big difference
was the difference in safety culture — industry seems
much more serious about safety, and more prepared to stop
work if there are concerns about health, safety and environment
issues.
Why did you join SCI?
I joined SCI while I was an undergraduate, and have maintained
my Membership throughout my doctorate and beyond. I feel it
is vital to promote the benefits that chemistry has brought
to the wider community, and that being a part of SCI is a
good way of doing this.
What do you hope to gain from your SCI Membership?
I hope that through SCI I can improve my networking, become
better connected with professionals within the scientific
community, and so more able to broaden my experience of research
as my career develops.
What do you hope to do next?
My intention is to stay within research, ideally moving up
into a more managerial position where I can have more of a
strategic and planning role. Having said that, I am also keen
to explore and develop in new areas, and so am prepared to
move out of research if an exciting opportunity presents itself
elsewhere in the industry.
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