Alternative Science Event, King’s Buildings, 1st March 2012
Speakers all have a scientific background but are now using their subject in non-laboratory
based work. Speakers include: Quality Assurance Auditor, National Officer for the Institute
of Physics, Health and Safety Manager, Health and Safety Inspector, Nuclear Engineer, and
Forensic Scientist.
Laura Mackie, Quality Assurance Auditor, Charles River Laboratories (CRL)
BSc Hons Microbiology 2008, briefly worked in a brewery before CRL
CRL is a preclinical Contract Research Organisation (CRO), running trials on drug (and
agrochemicals and animal health medicine) SAFETY rather then EFFICACY.
A QA Auditor is involved with:
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GLP (Good Laboratory Practice), GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and GMP (Good
Manufacturing Practice)
Protocols (Study Plan)
SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Audits
Inspections
Traceability
Positives about the job:
• Interacting with lots of people throughout the company
• Acquiring knowledge of many different types of study
• Lots to learn within the department
• Every day can be a challenge
• Not your typical “desk job”
And the negatives:
• Tight Deadlines
• Challenging Personalities – scientists want something passed and you are the one that
sometimes has to hold things up
• Reliance on QA – sometimes other teams want things done quickly and are not as careful
as they could be, thinking that QA will pick it up if there is a problem.
Key qualities needed for QA
• Friendly/Approachable
• Ability to keep calm
• Ability to stand your ground
• Attention to detail
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
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Not afraid to ask questions
Alison McLure, Institute of Physics
Great example of how you can have a series of short term, very varied jobs over 20+ years, but
still have a successful career
1. Graduated with degree in Physics
2. Meteorologist in Glasgow Weather Centre, forecasting for oil and gas companies, as well
as RAF.
3. Joined British Antarctic Survey – went as meteorologist, but many opportunities for
zoologists, marine biologists, environment science, geologists etc.
4. Worked for 3 years in Dunstaffnage marina – commercial enterprise, involved in repair and
maintenance of boats
5. Worked for Scottish Water, mapping pipes (global infosystems)
6. Changed to a career in Civil Service (Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Dept), giving advice
to ministers on (eg) cattle disease.
7. Studied for PG Diploma in Outdoor Education
8. Joined Institute of Physics as National Officer for Scotland – her experience of business
(marina), policy (Scottish Exec) and physics was an ideal combination. Works to promote
science to schools and the wider public. Also leads expeditions to Arctic and Antarctic with
British Schools Exploration Society as part of IoP role.
Lindsay Murray, Health and Safety manager (radiol. protection), University of Edinburgh
My first salaried posts (as a microbiologist) were in South Africa, working first in the South African
Institute for Medical Research, I returned to the UK in 1983 to take up a post as a microbiologist
within the Zoological Society of London, taking my first steps into immunology and vaccine
research
This was followed quite shortly after by a post with the University of Bristol’s Vet. School, based
Inst of Animal Health in Berkshire … still as a microbiologist, but with veterinary immunology as
the main focus of activities.
After a few years of that came the first radical career shift, when I moved from laboratory science
into environmental radiation protection and contingency planning in Cumbria. Cumbria is host or
near neighbour to several civil nuclear power facilities (Heysham, Sellafield and Chapelcross and
to VSEL where nuclear submarines are manufactured. The nuclear industry is licensed to
discharge a certain quantity of radioactive substances into the air and the marine environment,
from where it may be taken up by plants, animals and humans, so the biology degree was useful
for this. Opportunities emerged for travel to interesting places with nuclear connections, including
Germany, Sweden, Finland and Lithuania
Further Qualifications: the acquisition of the basic Radiation Protection Supervisor qualification
(through NRPB – now HPA). The next stage was to acquire full professional status as a Radiation
Protection Professional (through the Society for Radiological Protection).
But eventually, in 2000, there was another fairly radical career shift into operational, research and
business management for the SHEFC Brain Imaging Research Centre for Scotland, based in the
University of Edinburgh’s Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
Originally intended simply to facilitate the smooth running of research projects related to brain
imaging (for stroke medicine, oncology, psychiatry and psychology etc), the role quickly extended
to include recruitment and selection of staff, commissioning large extensions to buildings,
solicitation of donations, marketing and publicity, and a wide variety of unexpected roles previously
unfamiliar to a simple biologist, such as finance.
For the Brain Imaging Centre, the radiation protection aspects were largely specific to non-ionising
radiations and the interestingly specialised aspects of potential health effects related to exposures
to powerful magnetic fields.
Currently, and for the past six years, my latest radical career shift has been into health and safety
management for The University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine,
primarily based within the Little France campus. There are several distinctly different aspects to
H&S within a complex of healthcare teaching and research facilities:
• Preparing and maintaining Safety Manuals etc.
• Delivery of safety-related training
• Auditing and safety inspections
• Preventative planning
• Accident investigation
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And prior experience in biology and radiation protection helps considerably with:
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Pathogens
Radioisotopes
Non-ionising radiations (e.g. UV and MRI)
Toxins, carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens.
What qualifications and training are required to work in radiological protection?
You will normally require a degree in a science subject, most commonly physics, chemistry or biology.
There are structured training programmes for graduate trainees entering the radiation protection profession
in the medical and nuclear fields. A number of universities offer MSc courses in radiation protection. There
are also many short training courses on particular aspects of radiation protection. Most employers provide
extensive 'on-the-job' training to supplement formal education and qualifications. There are other
opportunities for those who do not have a degree, e.g. via the NVQ or City&Guilds route, but you will need
to be numerate in a scientific subject.
Who are the potential employers?
Radiation protection encompasses a wide range of disciplines and hence a wide variety of employment
opportunities exist. Examples: Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Health, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, Health and
Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Health Protection Agency, British Energy, Sellafield Limited,
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Atomic Weapons Establishment, United Kingdom Atomic Energy
Authority, National Health Service, cancer research, private medicine, Universities and research
establishments, pharmaceutical industry, instrument manufacturers, Non Destructive Testing companies,
dosimetry suppliers, oil and gas, waste disposal and decommissioning companies
See Society for Radiological Protection:
http://www.srp-uk.org/careers/careers-information
Christina Woodrow, Health and safety inspector, HSE
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
Purpose of HSE: Its main aim is to secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work and
protect others from risks to health and safety from work activity.
Specific activities:
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Inspection of operations
Investigation of accidents and incidents
Enforcement of statutory requirements
Provision of advice on the nature of risks, their assessment and management
Working with partners to identify, define, document and promote good practice in the
assessment / management of major hazards (inc. research & standards development)
Control of major accident hazards (COMAH)
Operations covers many employment sectors including construction, agriculture, general
manufacturing, engineering, food and drink, quarries, entertainment, education, health services,
local and central government and domestic gas safety.
Christina’s background includes a PhD and postdocs in immunology, then a chance advert in the
Guardian led her to apply to HSE to train as an inspector. Paid a salary while you train over one
year to get H&S diploma.
Advantages of a scientific background (not essential to have a science background to be an
inspector)
 Technical Understanding
 Health Effects- from exposure to hazardous substances or pathogens
 Human Behaviour- major factor in accident causation
 Control and instrumentation-safety instrumented systems
 Modelling of vapour release, Fire and explosion
 Mechanical Integrity
 Chemical Engineering-Process safety.
 Deductive reasoning
 Logical clear and precise report writing
Qualities needed:
 Ability to work Independently
 Work as a team with other agencies- SEPA
 Communicate clearly: verbally and in writing
 Well organised
 Disciplined at recording information
 Consistent
 Apply sound judgment in decision making
 Assimilate Information
Current salaries:
1. £54,403 -£65,525
2. £44,390 -£53,623
3. £32,344- £41,248 Regulatory
4. £26,324 -£32,291 Training Scale Band 4
5. £21,433 £26,753
6. £15,858 - £19,091
Specialist inspectors and Offshore Inspectors are paid higher salaries.
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
Vacancies advertised in national newspapers.
Mandy Lester, Nuclear Engineer, Nucleargraduates/Nuvia
Physics degree, but wanted to use physics in a more applied way, so joined Nucleargraduates
scheme. Two-year programme, working on projects with a range of employers in the nuclear
industry – eg Rolls-Royce, MoD, Magnox (decommissioning at Oldbury), Nuvia (nuclear
consultancy).
Average age of worker in nuclear industry is 55, so there is a desperate need to recruit and retain
scientists.
Projects so far:
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Business strategy – analysis packages
In service submarine support
Redundant gas plant removal (operating nuclear power station)
Engineering design of chemical plant
Fusion
Day to day activities:
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Talking to people!
Basic calculations e.g. heat transfer, stress analysis
Research
Measurements
Pros: Exciting, Unique, Real
Cons: Tiring, Relocation every few months is tedious.
Routes in:
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Graduate schemes
Direct entry to specific roles (usually with experience)
Apprenticeship
HND, Sponsored Masters / PhD, Nuclear EngD. Some companies might sponsor you to do
further study.
Find out more: Careers fairs, employer events
Where might you work?
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nucleargraduates
Sellafield
Magnox
EDF Energy
Atkins
AMEC
Rolls-Royce
BAeS
Babcock
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
Steven Ferguson, Forensic Scientist, SPSA
Forensic Scientist: Role includes the following
•Attend
crime scene
case
•Examine items
•Analyse materials
•Interpret results
•Produce report
•Provide evidence in court
•Assess
The Forensic Science Laboratory in Edinburgh is divided up into:
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Chemistry Unit ie Toxicology, Drugs, General Chemistry, Firearms
Biology Unit ie General Biology, DNA profiling, Body fluids, Hairs / Fibres Semen, Saliva,
Skin, “Touch DNA”, Urine, Faeces
Also under Forensic Science
 Fingerprints - Comparison of prints (crime scene to database)
 Crime Scene Examination, Photography, Evidence Recovery, Interpretation
 Provided by Police themselves - Vehicle Accident Investigation
Forensic scientists also involved with Legal Stuff. Reports may be used in Court, where scientist
may be required to give evidence
Findings reported to:
–Police
–Procurators Fiscal
–Defence lawyers (occasional work)
Skills needed for Forensic Science:
 Technical skills – specific to discipline
- (training on the job to complete skill set)
 Communication/presentational skills – may need to explain evidence under cross examination
• Usually biology, chemistry or physics (for ballistics) degrees but other specialisms are
sometimes required, such as:
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Entemology
• Palynology (pollen)
• Botany
Career paths & Qualifications
1. BSc or MSc in Forensic Science – can be helpful, although not always necessary. Includes
research placement in relevant institution (3 months) (Strathclyde University. King’s College
London)
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
2. BSc (Hons). In Science subject – can get in without Masters in Forensic science, though helps
to have some experience through work in relevant discipline (eg Analytical if worked for Scottish
Water, Mol Biol if worked at Roslin, or Quality Assurance, or specific instrumentation)
3. BSc (Ord) in Science subject – can work as Technician / Assistant scientist
4.BSc Hons relevant subject - Reporting Scientist – Honours degree in relevant subject
Many applicants for forensic posts: 155 applicants for 6 positions recently.
Qualities sought:
• Attention to detail
• Good observation
• Enquiring mind
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Ability to plan/organise work
• Understand importance of confidentiality
• Detachment
• “Life experience” – may have to consider range of scenarios/situations
Upsides of job:
• Exciting to discover “whodunnit?”
• Satisfaction when case successfully concluded (conviction or exoneration)
• Variety of casework
• Chance to develop as scientist
• Chance to develop beyond science
Downsides of job:
• Biology is not for the squeamish!
• Crime reports can be distressing
• On-call system
• Many deadlines
• Pressure of work (eg. Murder case)
• “If the evidence isn’t there, you can’t find it”
Employers:
Scotland: SPSA. Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow (going back to being under the Police
from next year)
Northern Ireland: FSANI. (Carrickfergus)
England & Wales: large commercial suppliers (all contracted out).
- Cellmark, LGC. Various locations.
Irish Republic: Forensic Science Lab, Dublin
(Smaller firms, university departments – defence work)
Vacancies advertised on SPSA website and National Press.
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012
University of Edinburgh Careers Service, March 2012