Monthly Mind - Dr. Graham Gibson

This month's Monthly Mind Initiative features Dr. Graham Gibson, Lab Operations Manager of NanoFabrication Kingston (NFK) at Queen's. Discover how Gibson's unique journey, blending diverse scientific pursuits with a passion for continuous learning, showcases the fascinating intersection of multiple disciplines within the world of nanofabrication. Their dedication to supporting cutting-edge research and mentoring future innovators perfectly aligns with the spirit of collaboration and innovation we champion at Q-ACS. Thank you, Dr. Graham Gibson, for sharing your inspiring story.

I manage NanoFabrication Kingston (NFK), the cleanroom and nanofabrication facility at Queen’s. NFK specializes in thin film deposition, small-scale patterning (lithography), etching, and surface characterization for a wide variety of researchers from academia and industry across many disciplines.  A key facility at any research university, the nanofab offers specialized tools for fabricating prototypes in technologies like microelectronics, photonics, and microfluidics in fields such as chemistry, physics, and electrical engineering. I am involved in all aspects of the facility including user training, equipment maintenance, nanofabrication services, finances, and marketing.

Wearing so many hats is certainly challenging, but it’s a challenge I embrace. I have always loved science and discovery, but no one topic shone brighter than others. I was happy and interested in whatever I was doing, so I kept trying new things. What I didn’t fully realize was that this approach would continue to help me throughout my career.

When my academic journey began, I had no idea that I would end up in a nanofabrication lab. I started my undergraduate in biology and chemistry with aspirations of becoming a criminologist, but along the way followed my favourite prof into a PhD in physical organic chemistry and catalysis. My postdoc was in analytical and materials chemistry, during which I taught intro organic chemistry on the side and thought I would be a professor someday, only to eventually find myself as one of the first two hires in a startup company working on alternative fuels using electrochemistry. At each of these stages, I learned new science and new ways of doing and thinking about things. Then, having stepped into a cleanroom only once or twice in my life, I became the manager of a brand-new cleanroom at a major university, having demonstrated that I could learn new things and that I had some relevant experience in just about everything I was asked in the interview.

Science is becoming more interdisciplinary all the time. Take the time to learn about things outside your field. Seek out ways to gain experience in different roles and to push your comfort zone. Even in the most focused scientific positions, knowing how to communicate with other disciplines will always be an asset. Lastly, try to be open-minded in your career path. The chances of the perfect position opening up in your exact field at just the right time are not high – be ready to consider doing something else you love, even if you don’t think you’re the right person for the job.