He took a job in a bank until 1899 before resuming his studies at Liverpool University before gaining a third class degree in zoology from Merton College, Oxford.
[2] He was a keen field naturalist and his research interests included the study of the fauna of the sea-floor of Cardigan Bay.
[2] Laurie called a meeting in 1909 "To consider a proposal to form an Association for bringing together the members of the Junior Staff more into touch with one another and with the life of the University".
[1] At first its aims were local and in 1910 it won a campaign over representation on the faculties but on learning that similar groups had been formed or were in the process of formation they invited representatives of the junior staff from Bristol, Sheffield, Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester for a dinner.
[1] By 1917 inflation had rapidly eroded the value of salaries and Douglas Laurie called a meeting on 15 December 1917 to draw up a memorandum to present to the Board of Education.
The issues raised by the memorandum drafted at the meeting included: pay; tenure; status; grading; opportunities for research and superannuation.
As pension funds affect staff at levels of their career this created pressure for the association to include professors.