Case studies - science

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Environmental science
• Physics

Helen

Helen graduated in biology from the University of York and followed this with a Masters in Forensic Science at King's. She has worked as an assistant forensic scientist in the Forensic Science Service (FSS) for six months.

'I see it as being a career that's going to be my whole life...it's not glamorous, like on TV, but I love it. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in doing a job which counts, the sheer responsibility of what you are doing can be a little overwhelming, after all, your results could imprison the innocent or let the guilty go free. It can feel like a life or death situation but there is a very supportive atmosphere in the team. There is a buzz to be working on a well-known case, knowing your input is important. I enjoy working towards a common goal.

I get a lot of contact with people in different capacities, the police, defence lawyers and other colleagues, and my work does have an end point when I am told the outcome of a case. You must be aware that by it's very nature there is a lot of routine procedures that have to be followed; it's integral to lab work, but every case is different, so the materials you are working on are tremendously varied. I have always liked neatness and precision so this is not a problem to me. I was surprised at the amount of paperwork, but continuity of evidence is vital in the courts so everything must be documented.

Communication skills, both oral and written, are an essential part of the job. You must be precise, concise and clear. Obviously, scientific skills are also paramount and you need to understand the protocol and have an interest in expanding and developing new ideas. Computer skills are very important and you need to be well organised and good at time management. This is a rapidly expanding business and the FSS is a twenty-four-hour service, the police often need a rapid turnaround in results. I work a forty hour week in shifts and sometimes at weekends.

It is very competitive. My advice is be persistent, apply for all levels of job (you can work your way up) and try to get some lab experience in a research facility, especially pharmaceuticals. Although I'm sure I wouldn't have got my job without my masters, I heard about it through the grapevine.'

Mark (graduated 1998)

In the summer of 1998, Mark secured a place on the graduate development programme of a large pharamceutical company, in the technical function. His initial role was mainly lab-based, supporting other analytical chemists while receiving on-the-job training. After six months he transferred to another team and was given responsibility for two development projects. While lab-based work was still a key part of the job, the role also involved office-based work, such as the preparation of reports and documentation for regulatory submissions. While on the graduate development programme, he attended courses focused on developing non-technical competencies, such as project management and presentation skills.

Eighteen months into his career he started working in the new categories team in addition to his other work. This new role focused on areas such as method development, shelf-life assignments, specification preparation, clinical trial supplies, regulatory submissions, resource management and development work with third parties. Mark’s current role is senior analytical scientist in this team.

Gareth (graduated 1999)

A few months after graduation, Gareth decided to join the police service. After entrance tests (English comprehension, maths, and problem solving), an informal first interview, a ‘home visit’, a final interview in front of three high-ranking officers and a medical, Gareth finally joined the service. His tip for success in the selection process is to revise some history of the police force you hope to join.

On joining the service, after two weeks at his force training centre, Gareth went to Police College for his twelve weeks’ First Stage Training, which was both physically and mentally intensive. He then began operational work under his Tutor Constable who guided him over the next year until he attended his second stage six weeks’ training.

After the two-year probationary period Gareth is now working as a front-line operational police officer. He enjoys the fact that no two days are the same, and will involve a mixture of being on the beat, detecting and reporting crime, making arrests, taking statements, completing paperwork, giving evidence in court, being seconded to aid CID, helping with prisoner transports and attending accidents or fires.

Mary

Early career plans centred on a desire to work with people in a caring way. Nursing had been an initial thought during her GCSEs, although A-level study helped to crystallise Mary's ambitions more clearly.

Studying an A-level in physics gave Mary the opportunity to take up a module specialising in medical physics, which was seen as a real inspiration to her current job as a medical physicist. A degree in physics was the next step for Mary as she concentrated on the academic side of her life. After completing her degree Mary thought again about nursing and actually made an application for a nursing degree. Keeping her options open, as all careers advisers would advocate, Mary made an application as a trainee medical physicist through the Recruitment Centre for Clinical Scientists. Specialising in radiotherapy Mary took up her two years of clinical scientist training. She decided on the option of a part-time MSc course, which ran in parallel with clinical experience.

Following completion of her MSc in medical physics with a successful final viva and dissertation Mary took up the Grade B post within a radiotherapy department where she is now. She works with a team responsible for commissioning new equipment for the treatment of cancer. The higher priority to cancer treatment given by the government recently has resulted in a more pressurised environment within most radiotherapy departments across the country. Expansion of services to patients and clinicians has led to a greater need for medical physicists, clinical engineers, technicians and administrators.

In the future Mary would like to secure a management position (Grade C). This may provide the opportunity to be responsible for a whole department. Overall, caring for patients, negotiating with doctors and working with colleagues on new equipment and new techniques makes for a challenging and rewarding career where team work is essential, especially at times of pressure.