Mandeep Ghuman on Clinical Research

Meet Mandeep Ghuman, a clinical research fellow at the Unit of Periodontology, King's College London Dental Institute.

"I qualified from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2003. During my time at dental school I also obtained an intercalated BSc which stimulated my interest in scientific research. After completing my VT training in general dental practice, I worked as a senior house officer in restorative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Following my general professional training I secured a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the Medical Research Council in 2007 to carry out my PhD studies investigating factors limiting periodontal regeneration which I completed in 2011. I have found doing research is intellectually stimulating and develops a diverse range of skills including those involved in IT, communication, critical thinking, management and personal effectiveness. As a clinical researcher, the combination of doing research, teaching, and seeing patients on the clinic provides a varied rewarding career. It is a path that provides a unique opportunity to progress scientific understanding of the clinical problems patients face and to potentially develop novel treatments that are deemed suitable from a clinician's point of view.

Doing research also gives the opportunity to travel to lots of nice places to meet like-minded people and to communicate your findings. I have been fortunate enough to travel to conferences in the US, Canada and Sweden to give talks on my work, and spent a month at the University of Michigan to learn new techniques."

Below Mandeep shares his insights about what it is like to be in Clinical Research. Click on the links below to access the videos of Mandeep.

Background and typical week including variation of activities

Pros of the specialty

Cons of the specialty

Future of the specialty

Advice for students

Personal lifestyle