The most influential person in my early career wasn’t a famous researcher or hospital director, it was the senior laboratory scientist who patiently guided me through complex procedures, explaining not just how but why each step mattered. Her ability to translate complex concepts into practical understanding shaped my entire professional trajectory.
This experience isn’t unique. Behind every successful laboratory professional stands at least one exceptional teacher who transformed technical information into meaningful knowledge.
Education and training represent powerful career pathways that leverage your laboratory expertise while offering new challenges and rewards.
Educational Roles Beyond Traditional Academia
Laboratory teaching opportunities extend beyond university positions:
- Technical College Instruction: Training the next generation of laboratory scientists
- Corporate Training: Developing staff for diagnostic companies
- Clinical Laboratory Education: Training staff in hospital and reference laboratories
- Continuing Education: Providing professional development for practitioners
- Public Health Training: Educating community health workers and field staff
- E-Learning Development: Creating digital training resources
- Laboratory Management Education: Teaching laboratory supervision and management
Each pathway offers the satisfaction of multiplying your impact through others.
Why Laboratory Scientists Make Extraordinary Educators
Your bench experience provides teaching advantages that textbook knowledge cannot replace:
1. Practical Wisdom: You know the nuances and challenges of real-world testing.
2. Troubleshooting Expertise: You can teach not just procedures but problem-solving.
3. Quality Perspective: You understand the critical importance of standards and controls.
4. Context Knowledge: You can connect laboratory operations to patient care outcomes.
5. Technical Currency: Your recent experience keeps teaching relevant to current practice.
The African Education Opportunity
Africa’s laboratory education landscape presents significant opportunities:
- Growing technical and vocational education sector
- Expanding continuing education requirements
- Increasing recognition of the need for specialized training
- Development of distance and hybrid learning programs
- Demand for workplace-based training and assessment
These trends create openings for laboratory professionals with teaching capabilities.
Pathways into Education Roles
The journey into laboratory education can follow multiple routes:
Academic Pathway
Pursue additional qualifications (M.Sc., Ph.D., or education credentials)
Begin with part-time or adjunct teaching positions
Develop specialized courses in your area of expertise
Progress toward full-time academic appointments
Corporate Training Pathway
Start by training colleagues in your current setting
Develop relationships with diagnostic vendors
Create specialized workshops or training modules
Build a reputation for effective knowledge transfer
Transition to dedicated training positions
Independent Educator Pathway
Identify specific knowledge gaps in the field
Develop targeted training programs or resources
Build credibility through professional organizations
Offer specialized workshops or consulting services
Create scalable training products (courses, guides, videos)
Essential Skills for Educational Excellence
- Effective laboratory education requires developing these capabilities:
- Instructional Design: Structuring learning experiences for maximum effectiveness
- Assessment Methods: Evaluating knowledge and competency accurately
- Technology Integration: Leveraging digital tools for enhanced learning
- Adult Learning Principles: Understanding how professionals acquire new skills
- Presentation Skills: Communicating clearly and engagingly
The Rewards Beyond Income
Laboratory education offers satisfactions beyond financial compensation:
- Legacy Impact: Shaping the practice of countless future professionals
- Continuous Learning: Staying at the forefront of laboratory developments
- Professional Recognition: Building reputation as a field expert
- Schedule Flexibility: Many teaching roles offer more predictable hours
- Reduced Physical Demands: Less physical strain than full-time bench work
I know a good number of Laboratory professionals who’ve built successful educational careers.
The common thread? They recognized that their ability to explain laboratory concepts clearly was as valuable as their technical proficiency.
Your Educational Exploration Plan If teaching interests you:
1. Volunteer to train new staff or students in your current setting
2. Develop a simple training resource on a topic you know well
3. Explore guest teaching opportunities at local institutions
4. Connect with laboratory science educators through professional networks
5. Consider relevant educational credentials or certifications
Remember: Every time you’ve helped a colleague understand a procedure or concept, you’ve been developing this skill set. The question now is how to build on this foundation intentionally.
In the next editions, I will share a couple exciting opportunities well suited for diagnostic professionals beyond the bench, do me a favor, start trying to match your skills and talents to the roles, in your quite time, try to picture yourself in any of these roles, just picture yourself as someone more than you are now.
If you can see it in your minds eye, then it is possible.
Till I write to you next, dream, dare, do!
Nancy.
