Alternative PGR Career Events
There's more to life than research! The MVLS Graduate School hosts a series of seminars and events which feature throughout the year.
This career event programme brings in guest lecturers from a range of sectors, from academia to industry, focusing on career progression and alternative opportunities.
All PGR students from MVLS receive 1 credit for attending these events.
Have you signed up for one yet? Check below for the next one....
Skills training
Innovation and Commercialisation: the other side of research
Date & time: Thurs 25 March, 12-1pm
Credit: 1
Location: Zoom
Dr Isabel Da Silva Teixeira Ramos is a Biomedical Engineer who has worked in different international research environments across different countries. She has a background in life sciences, biology, preclinical research and imaging modalities. Her international experience, together with her academic training has led to an improvement of critical thinking, creativity, motivation and perseverance to face new challenges and develop leadership competences.
Isabel is particularly interested in the use and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) related technologies in healthcare. She is currently working as an Innovation Manager for Siemens Healthineers allowing her to use her scientific background to develop industrial solutions and products.
Previous Events
Morta Antanaviciute and Victoria Bolton: Working at the Lighthouse Lab
Working at the Lighthouse Lab: The Inside View from our PGRs
Date & time: Tuesday 15 December, 1-2pm
Credit: 1
Location: Zoom
Some of our current PGRs recently took time out to work at the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow. Join Victoria Bolton (Year 3, Institute of Infection Immunity & Inflammation) and Morta Antanaviciute (Year 3, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology) as they share their experiences of what it was like to be part of the team that has processed more than 5 million COVID-19 tests since opening in April. Victoria and Morta discuss what it was like to work at the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow, what motivated them to join and how it has influenced their thoughts on future careers.
The Lighthouse Lab is part of the biggest network of diagnostic testing facilities in British history, alongside other Lighthouse Lab sites in Milton Keynes, Alderley Park, Cambridge and Newport. The lab processes thousands of samples from the regional COVID-19 test centres where people with suspected COVID-19 infections are tested.
The Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow is hosted by the University of Glasgow at our Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus, and opened in collaboration with the Scottish Government, industry experts from BioAscent and the University of Dundee, and the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute.
Dr Zara Gladman: From Zoology to Zoo-LOL-ogy: A Career in Public Engagement
"From Zoology to Zoo-LOL-ogy: A Career in Public Engagement"
Register for February's career event with guest speaker, Dr Zara Gladman, Public & Community Engagement Advisor at the University of Glasgow and presenter for BBC Scotland’s project ‘BBC The Social’.
Talk with Q/A session:
When: Tuesday 4th February 2020 @ 1pm
Where: Graham Kerr Building, Room 212
Credit: 1
Dr Zara Gladman has a degree in Zoology and PhD in ecology from the University of Glasgow. Her PhD explored the impact of invasive, non-native crayfish species in Scotland. As a postgraduate, Zara was heavily involved with public engagement, from founding academic comedy night ‘Bright Club’ and performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to podcasts, schools outreach and working on BBC science documentary ‘Afterlife’. After her PhD, she worked for the Royal Society of Biology in London, supporting delivery of the first ever national ‘Biology Week’. From 2012-2019, Zara was Public Engagement Coordinator for Glasgow Science Festival, engaging over 50,000 people every June through a diverse programme of science-themed events.
Zara also developed creative community projects like ‘Chasing the Waves’, which blended theatre with cutting-edge physics research, for which she received a Herald Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community in 2017. Since May 2019, Zara has worked as Public & Community Engagement Advisor for the University of Glasgow, supporting researchers across all four Colleges to connect with the public for mutual benefit. Outside of university, Zara is a presenter for BBC Scotland’s project ‘BBC The Social’, blending science with music and comedy for a young audience.
Dr Gordon Meiklejohn: "Working at the Interface of Academia and Business"
"Working at the Interface of Academia and Business"
Who: Dr Gordon Meiklejohn, Business Development Manager at the University of Glasgow.
Talk with Q/A session: "Working at the Interface of Academia and Business"
When: Monday 13th January 2020 @ 12pm
Where: Bower Building, Room 248
Credit: 1
"Gordon graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in Parasitology and then remained at University of Glasgow to study for his doctoral thesis in immunology/microbiology. Subsequent to his PhD, Gordon was instrumental in spinning out the contract research company, MD Biosciences, in 2004. MD Biosciences commercialised research from the labs of Profs Paul Garside and Iain McInnes and Gordon led the tech transfer from University lab to industrial setting. During his 8 year tenure, the company grew from start-up to employing 15 people and served a global client group of biotech and pharma companies.
Gordon joined the College of MVLS in 2012 as Research & Business Development Manager where he worked with researchers to develop their research towards application and impact by supporting translational funding streams including BBSRC follow-on fund. Gordon joined RSIO in January 2015 as Business Development Manager with responsibility for Innovate UK/TSB."
Dr Laura McMahon: From Derry Girl to Scientific Lead
"From Derry Girl to Scientific Lead, my journey along a chequered career path"
November 2019's career event featured guest speaker, Scientific Lead at Physician's World Europe - Dr Laura McMahon.
Tuesday 19th November 2019 @ 1pm
Watch the introduction to Laura's talk.
"Join me to retrace my steps from early scientific success in Derry, through a degree, PhD, and post doc, to a career in medical communications (via biotechnology, another university and primary school teaching).
If you, like me, are really indecisive, or just not sure of what to do next, you might get some inspiration or entertainment from my country-hopping, job-jumping progress through the world as a post-postgraduate."
Dr Sarah Morgan: A Career in Industry So Far
Dr Ian Salt: Developing Independence as a Scientist
Watch this talk on YouTube.
Dr Robin Hoyle: How To Get a Job in Science Communication
Dr James Leiper: The Discovery of New Sepsis Medicines
Dr Clara Orofino: Becoming a Patent Lawyer
Career slides are available below if you missed the talk:
Dr Iain Moore: A Career in Secondary Science Teaching
Date: Wednesday 21st November 2018
Time: 2.00-3.00pm
Speaker: Dr Iain Moore, Head of Physics at St Columba's Senior School
Title: "A Career in Secondary Science Teaching"
Venue: Wolfson Medical Building Seminar room 2—Hugh Fraser
Dr Tim Dowse: From Behind the Bench to Behind the Scenes
Dr Robin Hoyle - I want to be a Science Communicator
Title: I want to be a science communicator
Date: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Location: Room 330 (Gloag), 5 The Square
Dr Robin Hoyle has been part of the Glasgow Science Centre team since 2000, evolving from a science communicator delivering science in classrooms across Scotland, to leading the in-house education programme to his current role as Director of Science.
Robin is ultimately responsible for developing and delivering Glasgow Science Centre's science strategy and fulfilling its charitable mission to inspire people of all ages to discover and enjoy STEM. Robin oversees the Exhibition Development, STEM Learning, On Tour and Public Engagement teams.
Jane Salmonson: Opportunities in the Third Sector (Overseas)
Jane Salmonson, Chief Executive, Scotland's International Development Alliance delivered an interesting talk on her career path. The membership organisation for all those engaged in international development in Scotland. Glasgow University is a member, through the Glasgow Centre for International Development (GCID). Jane joined the international development sector in 2000, and before joining Scotland’s International Development Alliance as CEO in 2015, she worked for Mercy Corps, L’Arche and CBM.
Alice MJ Gee: Research Support as a Career
Although never having anticipated working in the job the she now does, Alice Gee knew that she wanted to use her skills, understanding and knowledge in science in a communicative and team-building environment. Alice spoke about her journey from lab-based research in the field of molecular biology and rheumatology to her current role as Policy & Business Intelligence Manager with the College of MVLS, University of Glasgow. Alice's story demonstrated how building on experience gained in different sectors could lead to a job that you love, but may not have considered previously.