World’s first Scientific Journal

is ‘Philosophical transactions: giving some acocunt of the present undertakings, studies and labours of the ingenious and many considerable parts of the world.’

Style guide? “ a close naked naturalway of speaking; positive expressions; clear senses;  a native easiness; bringing all things as near the mathematical plainness as they can; and preferring the language of artisans, Countrymen and Merchants before that of Wits or Scholars.” This was discovered in a biography of Thomas Paine – great supporter of the American and French Revolutions.

Alumnus PhD from the FCO

The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka – Dr Hayes, did a PhD in Physics at King’s. He gave a talk thiss morning about a career in the FCo. A phrase I liked about the key skill of a diplomat ( and of a PhD perhaps) is the Distillation of Information.

He talked about some of the dangers of his job – you are as likely to be in a flak jacket as a dinnner jacket.  When asked about what the FCO like s to see on a CV he said – something that showed you had to think on your feet.

A colleague who had spent a dangerous and difficult year living in a shared portakabin in an underground car park in Basra recently applied to stay for a second year. Why? “The conditions are better now. I get my own portakabin”

There were some Ferrero Rocher jokes – Oh and what is the difference between a High Commissioner and an ambassador? An HC is an ambassador in a commonwealth country.

Patents Work – Careers Seminar

Ran this seminar for the second time. This time we had 2 associates from Mathys Squire – both very good – said some useful things: its a good profession to be in if you like an argument. Some similarities to publishing papers and dealing with colleagues who question your research methodologies and results. Interesting stuff too about work-life balance – possible to work part-time and return after raising children.

It was disappointing that we only got 6 students on the day despite 12 students promising they would attend. My colleagues Laura and Rachel were there to boost the numbers a little.

Biomed Research industry Skills needs

This is Laura Mackenzies’s useful summary of this report

Findings from the ABPI report:

Skills Needs for Biomedical Research: Creating the Pools of Talent to Win the Innovation Race’, November 2008,  based on a survey of 30 life science organisations within the UK:

 

 

Translational & Biomedical Science Disciplines	Priority at graduate level*	Priority at PhD/postdoc level
Clinical Pharmacology/translational medicine		High
Molecular & translational toxicology		High
Biomedical Imaging / Physics		Medium
“Omics”	Medium	High
Drug metabolism & ADME	Medium	High
Biochemistry	Medium	Medium
Bioscience & molecular biology	Low	Low
In vitro pharmacology	Medium	Medium
Pharmacy	Medium	Medium/High
Medicine	Medium	Medium
Biotechnology & Biopharmaceuticals	High	Medium
In vivo physiology	High	High
In vivo pharmacology	High	High
Toxicology	High	High
Pathology	Medium	High

 

*Columns left blank indicate that little or no recruitment takes place at this level.

 

 

 

Skills & competencies expected of new recruits

 

Examples of the skills and capabilities that are expected of new recruits,  based on a survey of 30 life science organisations within the UK:

§        Understanding of basic experimental design, observation, recording, and

§        testing hypotheses.

§        Ability to plan and conduct a scientific experiment with appropriate controls

§        and analysis of data

§        Demonstration of good, safe laboratory practice, including an understanding of Good Laboratory Practice, standard operating procedures and the impact of health and safety in the laboratory environment (and environmental issues).

§        Basic practical laboratory procedures (setting up equipment, use of pipettes, serial dilutions, basic chromatography and basic chemistry skills)

§        Exposure to molecular biology procedures (such as tissue culture and collection, aseptic techniques)

§        Experience of the handling of live organisms and dissection of organs.

§        Ability to accurately observe and record data (including understanding of the importance of accuracy over speed)

§        Recognition of the integrity of data gathered.

§        Ability to bring aspects of an experiment together

§        Understanding of how errors arise (including use of error bars).

§        Critical analysis of their results

§        Independent and confident interpretation and assessment of scientific experiments

§        Problem solving skills, for example independently solving difficulties encountered in the lab.

§        Application of scientific and mathematical knowledge in designing experiments and interpreting results

§        Critical thinking skills and being able to dispute scientific procedures, data sets and other people’s work

§        Basic report writing and accurate record keeping

§        Ability to develop a project plan and be able to use it as a communication  tool

§        Know how and when to use IT; including Word, Excel (use of spreadsheets for computer modelling), data capture devices, search engines (to effectively research scientific literature).

§        Communication and interpersonal skills

§        Team working, collaboration and problem solving

§        Independent working

§        Data and text mining skills

 

Taken from ABPI report ‘Skills Needs for Biomedical Research: Creating the Pools of Talent to Win the Innovation Race’, November 2008: http://www.abpi.org.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=338

 

 

Goldsmiths Researchers

Did a day at Goldsmith’s on a consultancy job for Susie. It involved doing 2 workshops. I persuaded Vanessa to let me do the CV session. It allowed me to try out the new CV material I have been working on. In the event the groups were very small and I did not use the power point  but led a seminar style delivery – which I very much enjoyed.

Some of these Goldsmiths researchers were different from the King’s variety. They were artists ( music and visual) one of them at least did not have a first degree still less a PhD.

Time Management

This weeks Monday morning session. Onl 7 students but they get really stuck in to the topic. Much suggesting of ideas to each other. Really like this.

Science Publishing

Chris S a professional science editor came to talk to about 15 Phd students and postdocs last night. He gave an amusing walk/talk through his CV starting as a would-be vet through to degree in Biology and Phd in Bio-Physics.

It was interesting to hear the publishers side of the process which many in the room had experienced from the author’s side. Does the author have any rights – asked one psotdoc. None whatsoever, Chris cheerily replied.

The difficulties of finding a review panel sufficiently close to the subject to be knowledgeable, sufficiently distant to be objective were touched on.

How its different for him to go to a conference as he become s a magnet for everybody there. It wwas fun – he acknowledged,  but exhausting.

One thing he said about applications intrigued me; the cover letter was really important ( some organisations claim not to read it). For him the cover letter had to tell an interesting stroy about ewhy they would be good for publishing and publishing good for them.

Research in Industry

Students at the Centre for Developmental Biology asked me to talk about the above topic – and my solution was to get an Industry researcher to tell it straight fromthe Horse’s mouth. I thought of MM because he had experience in big pharma and was a senior scientist in a biotech.

I suggested he did not present a power point but just talked us through his CV – i wanted the students to feel they were just in conversation with a scientist.

M had dashed from a City meeting – which was a good intro – Biotech scientists need to talk to potential investors in the business.

M thinks he is too honest and too negative or downbeat in his presentations, but I think the students valued his honesty. I ‘compered’ so I could direct his comments towards things that I thought would be of interest to students.

Not an easy audience but eventually they warmed up and began to ask pertinent questions – -some impertinent ones too – like salaries - discussion of which I squashed.

It was a good showcase for careers advice – none of them knew about me – needless to say.

MM said that when he was a PhD student he would not have come to this talk. He was surprised that the room  was full. “The credit crunch?” ventured one student.

One question which was asked was an obvious one which I havd never considered: students might consider jobs in Industry or Postdocs. But what is the relative number of positions? 50-50?

I have no idea of the answer. I wonder if anybody else does.

I do this; I do that

Most of my weeks start with a Skills Training session. Not this one – so a nice soft start. Have been confirming details of an employer presentation sessiontomorrow, and gathering students to my MBTI session on Wednesday – the first one I have done this academic year.

Also gathering students for the Science publishing talk next week. Despite mass e-mails and a graduate school blog entry I have only 12 expressions of interest so far. I really want to have at least 20 for this session. 

Also reviewing CV’s and application forms of students and staff – 2 on my desk now. Did one for a staff member applying for a PhD on Friday.