Careers Session

 

The Society will be hosting 2 careers events during the meeting: the first will focus on career opportunities and the second on tips for writing grant applications and research articles.

An outline of the programme of events is given below.

Session 1: Sunday 13 July – 14:00 until 17:00

If you are planning to stay in academic research or are interested in opportunities in industry or away from the bench, this series of short talks will help you to explore career options that are available to you.

14:00 - 14:05 Introduction

14:05 – 14:35 Mind the Gap - take the right line to success in academia: Dr Ramona Scotland, Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellow.

Making the transition from a post-doc to an independent research scientist is a time fraught with uncertainty for young scientists.

What does the process involve, when is the right time to do this, and how do you make this transition smoothly? Having recently made the leap, I will outline what I consider to be the key steps to getting on the Fellowship ladder and subsequently a permanent research position.

14:35 – 15:05 Wellcome Trust Career Schemes: Dr Savita Ayyar, The Wellcome Trust.

The Wellcome Trust is one of the largest biomedical charities in the world, spending around £500 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. Funding is offered in a variety of ways and includes fellowships awarded to researchers from basic science, clinical and veterinary backgrounds. If you have decided to pursue a career in academic research, take this opportunity to find out which fellowship scheme may be most appropriate for you.

15:05 – 15:35 Changing Paths: from Academia to Industry: Dr Mike Collis, The Physiological Society.

Is working for industry an alternative to an academic career? Will you be told what to do and lose your scientific freedom? Is profit the only objective of industrial research? Mike Collis has worked in both sectors and will discuss the pros and cons of an industrial career.

15:35 – 16:05 Careers in Publishing and the Media: Dr James Butcher, Nature Clinical Practice.

Would you prefer to read and write about the latest advances in science and medicine, rather than spending hours at a lab bench trying in vain to get an experiment to work? If so, a career in publishing or the media could be for you. The talk will give an overview of careers in:  journal publishing, book publishing, science journalism, radio/podcasting and TV.

Talks will be followed by tea, coffee and an opportunity to ask questions in an informal atmosphere.

 

Session 2: Monday 14 July – 16:00 until 18:00

Session 2 is suitable for all delegates – from junior to senior scientists – and will provide tips on getting your research articles and grant applications accepted.

Career Development Workshop

ScienceCareers.org is a global career resource and jobs database, published online by the research journal Science.

The editors at Science Careers report on research and non-research career options in academia and industry in addition to exploring the wealth of ‘alternative’ career options (including science writer/journalist, financial analyst, and patent examiner). Through its forum and blogs, Science Careers creates a community for scientists to discuss their career issues and choices. In addition to these online resources, Science Careers runs an outreach programme which includes workshops, panel debates, and topical events to help bring our online message to you in person.

16:00 Welcome and introduction: Science Careers

16:05-17:00 A Guide to Writing the Model Article : Dr. Stella Hurtley, Senior Editor - Science  

After the hours of painstaking research you are finally ready to write and submit your work for publication. Gain a unique insight from an expert at Science, who makes the editorial decisions, on what to do and what definitely not to do when submitting your paper for publication. What constitutes the ideal article layout? What are the common flaws in those papers rejected? What makes an engaging and compelling abstract?  Join us for the answers to these and other questions.

17:00-17:55 Grant Writing Tips: Submitting a Successful Application : Dr Brendan Barker, Impact and Promotion Manager, Grants, The Royal Society

Take this unique opportunity to gain some first-hand advice from an experienced grant writer about how to structure and write a successful application.

Each lecture will last for 45-50 minutes, allowing 5-10 minutes for questions. Sessions will start promptly, so please be on time.

 

Additional Information

If you have any questions regarding the programme, or have suggestions for additional elements you might like to see included in this or future careers sessions, please contact Chrissy Stokes