PhD holder now a taxi driver
Online buzz over former researcher's blog on his exit from A*Star unit
Could this be Singapore's most well qualified taxi driver?
Dr Cai Ming Jie became an SMRT cabby last November after spending 16 years as a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).
His career switch has become a talking point online after he started a blog earlier this year. Alongside his experiences as a cabby, he takes issue with the circumstances of his departure from IMCB last May.
An SMRT spokesman confirmed that the former researcher is a driver with
SMRT Taxis, but Dr Cai declined to add more beyond this: 'All that needs to be said is on the blog online...It should be IMCB that needs to be asked questions, if any.'
The China-born Dr Cai, who became a Singapore citizen, obtained a PhD in molecular biology from Stanford University in 1990.
The Straits Times learnt that he did a two-year postdoctoral fellowship after leaving Stanford at the University of Washington, under famed genetist Professor Lee Hartwell, who won a 2001 Nobel Prize in physiology.
He joined IMCB two years later and worked as a principal investigator in the field of cell genetics up till his departure.
A spokesman for A*Star, meanwhile, said renewal of all its researchers' contracts is based on a number of factors, including the time taken to train PhD students, their performance and their contributions to the research institutes and the agency in general.
Dr Cai's work, like that of all A*Star researchers, was assessed by an external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which recommended his contract be terminated.
The spokesman said IMCB had taken the additional step of having Dr Cai's work assessed by three independent experts, 'all of whom supported the SAB's decision not to renew his contract'.
He said the former researcher was given one year's notice as well as advice and assistance to source for other prospects.
Still, in spite of the submission of countless curriculum vitaes and applications to universities, government agencies and companies since he was told he would be let go in 2007, Dr Cai failed to get a successful response.
Former colleagues feel his departure was unfortunate and a consequence of many factors. Having known him over the years, they say he is a reserved but bright scientist.
Dr Cai was also an adjunct associate professor at the National University of Singapore's (NUS') biochemistry department, where he supervised students doing research in cell and molecular biology. This appointment ended last year, an NUS spokesman said.
The former researcher now drives a four-year -old Toyota Crown. 'At a time like this, the taxi business is probably the only business in Singapore that still actively recruits people,' he said.
In his latest entry, dated Monday, he revealed that he will focus on writing when his six-month contract at SMRT Taxis expires at the end of the month.
'After that, I plan to change to a new taxi operator...and continue driving and writing stories that come along with it.'
Source: ST <!-- / message --><!-- edit note -->
<HR SIZE=1 itxtvisited="1">Last edited by snapp : Today at 07:17 AM.
<!-- / edit note -->
Online buzz over former researcher's blog on his exit from A*Star unit
Could this be Singapore's most well qualified taxi driver?
Dr Cai Ming Jie became an SMRT cabby last November after spending 16 years as a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).
His career switch has become a talking point online after he started a blog earlier this year. Alongside his experiences as a cabby, he takes issue with the circumstances of his departure from IMCB last May.
An SMRT spokesman confirmed that the former researcher is a driver with
SMRT Taxis, but Dr Cai declined to add more beyond this: 'All that needs to be said is on the blog online...It should be IMCB that needs to be asked questions, if any.'
The China-born Dr Cai, who became a Singapore citizen, obtained a PhD in molecular biology from Stanford University in 1990.
The Straits Times learnt that he did a two-year postdoctoral fellowship after leaving Stanford at the University of Washington, under famed genetist Professor Lee Hartwell, who won a 2001 Nobel Prize in physiology.
He joined IMCB two years later and worked as a principal investigator in the field of cell genetics up till his departure.
A spokesman for A*Star, meanwhile, said renewal of all its researchers' contracts is based on a number of factors, including the time taken to train PhD students, their performance and their contributions to the research institutes and the agency in general.
Dr Cai's work, like that of all A*Star researchers, was assessed by an external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which recommended his contract be terminated.
The spokesman said IMCB had taken the additional step of having Dr Cai's work assessed by three independent experts, 'all of whom supported the SAB's decision not to renew his contract'.
He said the former researcher was given one year's notice as well as advice and assistance to source for other prospects.
Still, in spite of the submission of countless curriculum vitaes and applications to universities, government agencies and companies since he was told he would be let go in 2007, Dr Cai failed to get a successful response.
Former colleagues feel his departure was unfortunate and a consequence of many factors. Having known him over the years, they say he is a reserved but bright scientist.
Dr Cai was also an adjunct associate professor at the National University of Singapore's (NUS') biochemistry department, where he supervised students doing research in cell and molecular biology. This appointment ended last year, an NUS spokesman said.
The former researcher now drives a four-year -old Toyota Crown. 'At a time like this, the taxi business is probably the only business in Singapore that still actively recruits people,' he said.
In his latest entry, dated Monday, he revealed that he will focus on writing when his six-month contract at SMRT Taxis expires at the end of the month.
'After that, I plan to change to a new taxi operator...and continue driving and writing stories that come along with it.'
Source: ST <!-- / message --><!-- edit note -->
<HR SIZE=1 itxtvisited="1">Last edited by snapp : Today at 07:17 AM.
<!-- / edit note -->
