Mark Skehel, technology specialist, is interviewed by Isabel Harding. A born scientist – thanks to his father’s influence – Mark has a job that allows him to play with big bits of equipment, as well as do his own biomedical research. His high-tech instruments help fellow scientists identify proteins from complex biological mixtures. ‘Mass spectrometry’ – or ‘mass spec’ for short – is a sensitive technique used to detect, identify and measure molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Studying our biology at a molecular level helps scientists understand how our bodies work when healthy, what goes wrong in disease, and how we might fix disease pathways. His attitude of “Don’t be afraid of change – embrace it!” has served him well. By moving between industry and academia, he’s learnt transferable skills allowing him to help solve difficult biological problems. His experience proves that you can move around and change paths at any point in your career. Find out more about Mark’s work on our blog: mrc.ukri.org/blog View the transcript: mrc.io/2WJHkX6 Presenter and Editor: Hasina Sacranie Producer: Isabel Harding Music credits: "Clean Soul" and "Brittle Rille" Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under CC BY 4.0