The more eagle-eyed users of the Bioscience Careers website may have noticed the recent addition of a “Careers Events” tab – top right. This link will take you to a listing of forthcoming careers conferences and festivals. Particular emphasis will be given to specifically bioscience-focused events and/or events taking place near Leicester.
Back in September I wrote a post about Medical School Interviews on the sister-site Journal of the Left-Handed Biochemist. The original audience for the article were A level students. However, the article was well received and with many bioscientists planning to go on to study Medicine after their initial degree I thought it would also be useful to add a link from here.
For a number of years New Scientist has produced special issues promoting Graduate jobs. Their 2009 edition has recently been published and is available to read online (with the added bonus that you can download particular pages if you so wish). As well as advertisements for jobs and courses for further study, the magazine also contains an excellent article on practical advice for interviews. Coverage is not limited to bioscience careers, but there are several examples drawn from individuals with life science degrees. The magazine is also developing a wider student-focussed website, which can be reached via this link.
During the 2007 series of CABS seminars, Dr Peter Meacock, Sub-Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Medicine & Biological Sciences at the University of Leicester gave some advice for Bioscientists considering a PhD as their next step after their degree. He has kindly updated his slides.
A video of his original presentation is available here.
Additionally, a panel of current PhD students were interviewed about their experience and the advice that they’d offer. A video of their discussion is available via this link. The panelist were Dan Hayward [BSc(hons) Biological Sciences (Microbiology)], Andrew Chadburn [BSc(hons) Medical Biochemistry, Abbie Fairs [BSc(hons) Biological Sciences (Physiology and Pharmacology)] and Priscilla Lo [Bsc(hons) Medical Genetics].
Following her presentation as part of the 2009 seminar series, the CABS team have subsequently been on a site visit to see Emma Catchpole at work. In this short video, Emma elaborates on her role and offers advice to students considering a similar career.
Dr Jo Marchant [BSc(Hons) Biological Science (Genetics), 1995] gave a talk as part of the 2007 series of Careers After Biological Science seminars. Jo has worked for both Nature and New Scientist, and is also the author of Decoding the Heavens which tells the fascinating story of the discovery of the Antikythera mechanism, believed to be the world’s first computer.
A video of Jo’s presentation can also be seen via this link.
If you achieve sufficiently high grades and survive the interview process, Biological Science can be a good platform from which to obtain a place at Medical School as a postgraduate. You can apply for either four or five year courses (and are recommended to apply for a mix of both). Shiraz Makda [BSc(Hons) Medical Biochemistry, 2003] got offered places on both, but elected to take the five year option.
In this interview, conducted six months into his first year as a Doctor, Shiraz offers some advice for those considering Medicine after their first degree.
Steve Coney [BSc(hons) Medical Biochemistry, 2006] gave the final talk of the 2009 CABS series talking about his role as a Manufacturing Scientist with clinical trial specialists Pharmaceutical Profiles.
Dr Sukhi Thandi [BSc(hons) Biological Science, 2000; PhD Cell Physiology, 2004] gave a presentation at the 2009 Careers After Biological Sciences seminar series about her role as a Clinical Trials Coordinator at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.
Jenny Harrison from the University of Leicester School of Education gave a 2008 CABS seminar about doing a PGCE. Her slides are shown below. Financial and other information was correct at the time of the presentation, please bear in mind that these may have altered in the intervening period.
