Robert Turner Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
Dr. McCarthy, a physician-scientist and human geneticist, has presented several invited sessions on the genetics of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Chris Nowak, ASHG: How do you keep on top of the rapidly expanding bioinformatics field and the increasing availability of large data repositories?
Dr. McCarthy: Find a niche (even if you get involved in more general things, too), and reach out to those other cohorts. Develop skills in areas including:
- Computation/coding
- Statistical analysis
- Genetics
- Genomics
- Function
- Physiology
- Health informatics
Of course, few can do all of these.
ASHG: What one piece of advice would you give your former trainee-self:
Dr. McCarthy: As in other aspects of life, my advice is the same: Follow your instincts. Be generous & honest to yourself and others. Be fearless.
ASHG: What are your favorite and least favorite parts of your job?
Most favorite – The thrill of discovery
Least favorite – Doing stupid & routine paperwork late at night
ASHG: Name three attributes that characterize the best researcher in your field.
Dr. McCarthy:
- They don’t get emotionally attached to their hypotheses: they are equally happy to be proved wrong as right
- They get the big picture
- They do their best to nurture and support junior staff
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