Jack Vasey
Scientist, Enhanced Pacific Biosecurity Partnership Programme, Ministry for Primary Industries
Master of Science (Research) in Microbiology with Honours (First Class)
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
“I love having a meaningful career,” says Jack Vasey who now works for the Ministry for Primary Industries, delivering plant health and biosecurity training in the Pacific Islands.
“I’m a scientist in the Enhanced Pacific Biosecurity Partnership Programme, and I appreciate that through my time at the Ministry for Primary Industries I’ve had the opportunity to help to protect New Zealand’s biosecurity and advance the biosecurity capabilities of Pacific Island nations. The consequences of our work are really visible, which means we have some really meaningful outcomes to what we’re doing.
“I’ve held a number of roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries. I’ve been a senior technician in the bacteriology and mycology team at the Animal Health Laboratory, a scientist in the mycology and nematology team at the Plant Health and Environment Laboratory, and am now a plant health scientist in the Enhanced Pacific Biosecurity Partnership Programme. In each of these roles, the diversity of samples and work varies widely. One day you may be processing routine samples from surveillance programmes for biosecurity pests, and the next you may be helping to develop an assay for the detection of a high impact pathogen, or directing testing on a tricky sample sent in by a concerned member of the public. It means you’re constantly having to think and use your skills. It feels so genuinely engaging.”
In his career so far, he has already had a number of achievements of which he is particularly proud.
“I’ve done some pretty cool things. I’ve formally presented my work in plant biosecurity at the New Zealand Plant Protection Society Conference, and I have a couple of academic publications coming out of the work I’ve been part of. When I was employed at the Animal Health Laboratory, I worked in the enhanced Physical Containment Level 3 Laboratory with regulated and pathogenic organisms, which was a serious test of lab practice and keeping a cool head. I’ve also been responsible for confirming the identity of several first detections of animal bacteria and plant fungi for New Zealand, which has been a really neat use of my ability to study an organism, then design and carry out testing.”
A love of microbiology
Having always been passionate about science, Jack says he first found his way to AUT when the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum gave high school students a chance to attend lectures at different Auckland universities. He was so impressed by the session at AUT’s microbiology lab that he immediately knew microbiology was the career for him, soon enrolling in a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.
“I really enjoyed the amount of practical work we got to do at AUT. Talking to my friends at other unis, I could tell that I was in the lab far more often, actually getting to use what I had learnt. The smaller sizes of the classes also helped me maintain my enthusiasm. I was on a first name basis with all of my lecturers by Year 2, and only got to know them better the further I went.
“The research I did in the third year of my Bachelor of Science and in my Master of Science (Research) was scaffolded on so much practical experience from the labs that it felt easy to transition into. My master’s degree was the single biggest highlight of my time at AUT. My supervisor was great, and I came out of it with a 200-odd page thesis which I’m still very proud of. A lot of my inspiration through my master’s degree came from our molecular laboratory group; an assortment of postgraduate research students who would meet weekly and talk about the progress of our research projects. It really helped to break down the walls between the academic rigor and the very human side of doing research.”
Throughout his time at AUT, there were a number of staff he was especially impressed by.
“I still remember the first microbiology course I took at AUT, which was co-hosted by Professor Donnabella Lacap-Bugler. The teaching team came out with so much passion and contagious excitement for microbiology that it would have been impossible to not be keen on it alongside them. I also appreciated how much lecturers like Mark Duxbury, Dr Kevin Lee, Associate Professor Brent Seale and Professor Colleen Higgins have shaped my approach to my work and life in general.”
Advice for other students
Jack – who is proud of receiving a number of top student awards throughout his studies and of being awarded an AUT Vice-Chancellor’s Undergraduate Scholarship, an AUT Postgraduate Scholarship and a Freemasons Postgraduate Scholarship – has some great advice for other students.
“AUT gives you a lot of freedom to tackle things at your own pace and in your own way, especially if you’re interested in research, and there’s a tonne of support for you there. Take it slow and get exposed to as much as possible. When you find the thing you’re passionate for, use everything that AUT offers to chase it, and you’ll most likely catch it.”
Throw yourself into everything you can, he adds.
“The university is set up with so many connections in industry, government and crown research institutes, and there are so many cool opportunities you can get exposure to while you’re AUT through the employability lab or by attending talks on campus.”
