If you have an interest in science or biology you should look into a career in research. Research careers are going to be very important in the future, especially with all the work on the human genome and the study of genetics.

I'm responsible to report problems or events that patients might experience due to the investigational drug that they are taking for our study. I manage a huge paper trail, because if the study goes well and the medication is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we need to be completely prepared for a future FDA audit. My typical tasks consist of filing serious adverse event reports with the FDA, the study sites and with our safety monitor, and ensuring that we are FDA-compliant from a regulatory standpoint.

I like the independence of this job. I see the study investigator once per week guaranteed, and then sporadically throughout the week. He trusts us to do our job. I also like that this is an extremely flexible job. I have had other jobs in research and they too have been extremely flexible. It is hard to imagine going back to an 8-5 job. I enjoy communicating with all the study personnel and meeting so many different people. My favorite thing about this job is getting the chance to "prove" that I am well organized.

After working here for 15 years, I take Mayo Clinic for granted. However, when I go home to Wisconsin and tell people were I work, I see the "awe" look on their face -- it's a good feeling.