Careers in Genetics

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Dr. George Johnson

Background• In the 2007-2008 National Student Survey, Swansea genetics

graduates felt that they could have had better careers advice during their undergraduate studies.

• The careers office provides general advice, however more specific information was required for these students.

• Following this feedback, I approached the students at level 2 and 3 of the genetics and medical genetics BSc degree schemes, who echoed this lack of careers advice.

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Genetics and Biochemistry BSc – employability previously assured by:

• Transferable skills modules. Biochemistry Skills and Genetic Analysis: presentation, abstract writing, assessment of peers, asking questions to peers, critical assessment of scientific literature, CV writing.

• Links with major employers within the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the College of Medicine has Ph.D. Case Awards with Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, GSK.

• Excellent final year projects are provided within the Institute of Life Science (ILS) by members of the College of Medicine.

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Interventions since 2008

1. Annual careers afternoon - 2008 onwards.

2. Careers self directed e-learning tool - 2008 onwards.

3. Started an industrial placement scheme with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)- 2009 onwards.

4. Student trips to local companies, such as GE healthcare Cardiff.

5. Alumni from Industry (e.g. GSK) now lecture on our courses.

6. Dr. Masood Yousef created links with recruitment firms, including MatchTech, 2009 onwards.

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Careers Afternoon

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Time What? Who?14:00 Welcome Dr George Johnson14:10 Recruitment Companies. Dr. Masood Yousef 14:15 Careers Office. Dr. George Johnson

14:20Swansea Alumni and Careers Opportunities in NHS. Dr. George Johnson

14:40Graduate Entry Medicine @ Swansea Dr. Kit Lucas and Sian Quarrell

15:00 Representative from Industry Prof. David Tweats (GSK & Consultant) 15:20 Coffee Break15:30 Career path to Astra Zeneca Dr Anne Doherty

15:45 Career path to Academia, Dr. George Johnson

15:50 Biotech Industry Dr. Ed Dudley

16:00 Wine, Cheese, Tea/Coffee/Cakes/FAQ

First Wednesday in December.

Feedback for Careers Afternoon

Upon using this resource do you now;

No Yes

1 2 3 4 5

Have a better understanding of the career opportunities available upon graduation. 6 27

Have an increased array of tools that will you to help decide on which career path to follow. 11 22

Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will help in preparing you for one of these careers? 13 20

Also Overall, did the resource improve your understanding of the topic? 9 24

Did this stimulate your interest into becoming a scientist? 1 1 8 23

Would you recommend this session to a fellow student? 1 6 26

Was your chosen career path included in this session? 1 6 266

Careers –e-learning toolhttp://scs.swan.ac.uk/genetics_careers/index.html Transferred the PowerPoints from the careers afternoon into a

website with Jess Griffiths and Martin Goddard (CoM).Update the site regularly and act on feedback.

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Feedback: E-learning tool

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Upon using this resource do you now;

No Yes

1 2 3 4 5Have a better understanding of the career opportunities available upon graduation. 1 5 24Have an increased array of tools that will help you to decide on which career path to follow. 2 28Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will help in preparing you for one of these careers? 16 14Also; Have you used this resource more than once? 30Overall, did the resource improve your understanding of the topic? 30

Do you think that the e-learning tool is a better resource than a careers afternoon? 21 3 6

Did it work?

Z scoresSwansea Universit

y Departm

ent

JACS Subject

Area

Swansea

2008/09 DLHE

Russell Group

94 Group All HEIs Welsh

HEIs

Medical School

Biological sciences

88.9% 1.42 2.26 1.80 3.01

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• There was an increase from 66.7% students, in employment or further study, before the intervention (2007-2008) compared to 100% (2008-2009) after the intervention.

• 17th /150 = biochemistry and genetics, www.Unistats.direct.gov.uk

• 96%+ student satisfaction

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Acknowledgements• Jess Griffiths,• Martin Goddard,• Careers afternoon contributors,• Prof. David Skibinski,• Phil Brophy,• Andrew Morgan and the tHE • Genetics and Biochemistry teaching group,• Institute of Life Science staff for delivery of research projects.

For PhD students – employability is assured by:

1. Access to undergraduate and taught masters modules to increase knowledge base in subject area.

2. Close links between CoM and key industrial/pharmaceutical sector (GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Roche, NovoNordisk, Unilever) as well as local SMEs.

3. Students attend compulsory Biomedical/health services research (as appropriate) seminars on a weekly basis.

4. CoM provides a compulsory course on “statistics for biomedicine” ensuring that all students are adept at data analysis.

5. Access to careers service on campus and engagement in seminars/workshops run there.

6. Close monitoring of progress of all PhD students by the CoM, including a 1st year viva by independent academics to ensure students maximise their research opportunity.

7. Annual postgraduate research day is set up like a professional scientific conference with poster presentations, verbal presentations, visiting researchers, visiting companies etc. This develops the students presentation and networking skills, with prizes for the best work and much feedback/kudos given between students for good presentations. It is also very social and collaborations often occur as a result of this.

8. Encouragement to attend careers related course offered by studentship sponsors such as BBSRC.

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For the GEM – employability (ie the ability and the incentive to work) is assured by:

1. Selection of candidates.2. Early exposure to clinical practice through short Learning Opportunities in the

Clinical Setting (LOCS) during the first two years of the course3. Exposure to clinical practice in primary care through a course of community-based

learning that begins in the first year4. A system of personal tutors that help students deal with issues that might include

their suitability for the profession5. Clinical Apprenticeships throughout the 4 yr course where pairs of students are

placed with a senior clinical teacher in a clinical setting in order to reflect on the practice of medicine

6. Specialty Attachments in the 3rd and 4th year where students experience the management of patients with specific health needs

7. Matching our teaching, learning and assessment against the GMC outcomes for graduates (as expressed in ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors 2009’)

8. Working closely with the Welsh Postgraduate Deanery in order to develop a ‘seamless’ transition from graduation through the first 12 months of postgraduate ‘Foundation’ training. 13