Science happens in collaboration so it’s no surprise that Genevieve Martin-Roussety says people are the reason she likes her job. She’s a scientist and researcher in CSL’s protein biochemistry group
“I feel really privileged to be able to work alongside some of Australia’s – if not the world's – sharpest minds,” she said. “It's a bunch of really dedicated scientists who have a big thirst for knowledge.”
Because she’s part of a diverse team, Roussety says “we’re just able to do some really amazing science.” CSL, a global biotech leader with more than 25,000 employees, specializes in rare and serious diseases as well influenza prevention.
On a typical day, she gets in the lab by 7:30 in the morning to prep her instruments and collect her thoughts. Working with proteins – knowing they could translate into medical advances for patients – keeps her motivated.
“Because I'm involved in early stage research projects, what really excites me is that I am first to get my hands on those proteins that can eventually become a medicine in the future,” she said.
Roussety credits a science teacher for helping her crystallize what she wanted to do with her life. What drew her to science, she said, was the rigor of it and its disciplined organization. She also spent a year teaching biology.
Today, she helps her daughters, ages 8 and 5, interpret the natural world, sometimes answering questions like “Why does the sun keep following us?”
Roussety has some advice for anyone pursuing a career in science: Learn to ‘roll on’ even if the breakthrough you hoped for didn’t happen.
“You'll feel discouraged, but it's all part of a journey and my advice is to really embrace that failure because it presents an opportunity to investigate things further; to explore a new hypothesis and just grow from that.”
Learn more about Genevieve in the video above.
We interviewed her as part of our Everyday Trailblazers series, a chance to celebrate CSL scientists and learn more about their unique talents and abilities outside of work. Today’s scientists are pioneers who are willing to take risks and forge a path where none currently exits. Trailblazers are innovative thinkers who challenge the status quo, opening new frontiers for others to follow. They’re also everyday people – parents, partners and friends with eclectic personal interests and passions that contribute to the creative spark needed to drive new and better medical solutions.
In that spirit, CSL launched this campaign to spotlight eight of its scientists based in Australia, where the global biotech was born more than 100 years ago. The campaign – which will take various forms, including billboards – features Genevieve and other trailblazers like Jill Allen and Saw Yen Ow.
