Whilst he was a student, and later whilst newly on his career ladder, he took part in several clinical trials as a healthy volunteer - paying for a holiday to Corfu and his first car with the proceeds.

He started working in research as a clinical technician and was trained to draw blood, perform ECGs and other physiological measurements. Experience in recruitment and screening and as a study coordinator paved his way for a role in Quality Assurance. Here he had an opportunity to provide support to the IT department performing system backups and undertaking QC of lab data transfers, as well as the conventional responsibilities of conducting audits of clinical studies, laboratory procedures and clinical trial reports.

This varied and hands-on start to his career helped him as he went on to found a clinical QA department, run operations in a busy Phase I Unit and was called upon to direct and grow a Phase II business.

Once more back in Phase I, he worked with the Medical Director to change a newly acquired pharmaceutical company R&D function into a profitable CRO.

After a sabbatical where he spent time on travel including a solo trek in the Swedish arctic circle and jungle training in Borneo he returned to work - but this time in Baltimore MD.

For a six month period he found himself running the Unit whilst a permanent director was sought. During that time he built strong relationships with the staff and management of the Unit and repeatedly returned to assist them once his assignment was complete.

After a productive period of running a global Quality Management and Systems integration team, Steffan conceived, proposed and implemented and led a global Early Phase biometrics team comprising Data Management, Biostatistics, Medical Writing and PK Analysis.

Steffan enjoys the wilderness, is learning to cross country ski, is continually relearning photography, is a pretty good cook, likes reading about evolutionary biology and is a big fan of Apple technology. He advocates the use of non-proprietary file formats and wonders why we allow ourselves to be so dependent on Microsoft.

Steffan is currently an Associate with Alacrita LLP.

For further information on his career please look at LinkedIn.