Roger Pearce is an Image Analysis Services Manager at Flagship Biosciences. Through expertise in Image Analysis and Digital Pathology, Pearce and his team strive to solve problems for both internal and external clients, pushing their skills and technology to their full potential. We recently talked to him about his early career in Zoology, how he transitioned to work in image analysis, and his advice for students aspiring to enter the field.
Did you always want to be a scientist?
Yes, I knew at a very young age that I wanted to become a scientist. I was always interested in animal documentaries as a kid and my favorite place to visit was the Scripp’s aquarium in La Jolla CA. I started with wanting to be an Oceanographer (to study sharks) and flipped to being a Paleontologist (to study dinosaurs). I settled on Biology/Zoology and pursued that education track throughout college.
Did you have other jobs in research before joining Flagship?
When I was working on my master’s degree, I was fortunate enough to be a part of a large grant investigating the rabies virus prevalence in the Fort Collins big brown bat population. My project was centered around the ectoparasites of these animals, and the association (or lack thereof) with the rabies virus. I also managed a desert tortoise research colony at Colorado State University, was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at CSU, measured sagebrush abundance/coverage with USGS, and contributed to controlling the mosquito population in Fort Collins before entering Digital Pathology.
How did you transition into Image Analysis and Digital Pathology?
I was asked by one of my previous employers if I would be interested in learning image analysis as a possible career track within the company. I accepted and quickly became the image analysis expert of that company. I have had the privilege of learning and eventually mastering several image analysis platforms. For my second job in Digital Pathology, I was fortunate enough to join a company that grew rapidly over the course of 3 years. This growth gave me the opportunity to grow a small but impactful team of image analysts and scanning technicians.
What is your favorite part of your role at Flagship?
I enjoy working with my team of experienced Analysts. It is wonderful to work with these individuals with varying backgrounds and interests. As a team, we strive to solve problems for our clients (internal and external) and want to continue to be challenged to push our skills (and the software) to its full potential.
Do you have any advice for aspiring scientists?
My advice to aspiring scientists and technicians would be to “ask questions.” Asking questions demonstrates a level of engagement that allows an individual to stand out when looking for a job, promotion, etc. I would also add to take chances, and do not discount an opportunity without sufficient evaluation and thought. I took a summer job as a field technician studying bats that eventually led me to getting a funded master’s degree. And agreeing to learn a new skill (image analysis), gave me unanticipated opportunities and led me on the career that I am still on to this day, 15 years later.
What advances in Spatial Biology/Biotech are you most excited to see in the next five to ten years?
I’m excited about the continued evolution of the technology to allow us to answer even more complex questions. I entered the Digital Pathology/Spatial Biology space during the early use of machine learning and was fortunate enough to see it grow into the deep-learning AI technology that it is today. I’m excited to see how the technology changes in the next five to ten years to aid us in answering the more complex questions that are asked today.
About Roger Pearce
Roger Pearce is an Image Analysis Services Manager at Flagship Biosciences. He has a Master of Science in Zoology and Bachelor of Science in Biology and Zoology from Colorado State University.