Monthly Mind - Dr. Mario Khalil

Q-ACS is excited to feature Dr. Mario Khalil for this month's Monthly Mind Initiative! Thank you for sharing how flexibility in one's career goals is critical and the importance of good leadership and communication skills. Thank you, Dr. Khalil, for generously sharing your experiences and insights!

Mass spectrometry is an interesting and growing science. Currently, mass spectrometry has a wide range of applications in both industry and academic labs. Recently, mass spectrometry has been widely used in pharmaceutical, biotechnological, environmental and clinical research applications. My name is Mario Khalil, and I am the mass spectrometry instrumentation manager who runs the mass spectrometry facility (one of the core research facilities in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University). I oversee the day-to-day operations of a large and complex laboratory and participate in planning activities to ensure the laboratory meets the projected needs of stakeholders. I also interact with researchers, students, and other personnel associated with research projects that utilize instrumentation in the facility. Additionally, I provide training to others on the safe use and applications of the facility. Before starting at Queen’s University, I held a scientist position in the Mass spectrometry-based Omics industry; processing samples, analyzing data, preparing reports and overseeing general lab maintenance. In addition to that, I worked in academia and governmental agencies.

For me, navigating a career path between industry and academia was challenging and rewarding at the same time. The work culture in academia can be quite different from industry; however, the skills that I developed in the industry, such as teamwork and problem-solving skills, have helped me a lot in academia. Whether you decide to pursue a career within academia or industry, always try to focus on developing your leadership and communication skills. These skills which you learn during graduate studies will help you in any career path you choose. Always remember that flexibility in career goals can offer you a lot of opportunities and help you adapt to change.