Category Archives: Biosciences

Research Assistant – University of Exeter College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Administration, Biosciences, Education, Teaching and Research, Science, Science, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main role for the duration of this internship was to organize and carry out data collection in the labs. This included participant recruitment, lab booking, and the setting up and running of the CODA equipment and software we used. Once data was collected I was responsible for its processing and analysis too. During this internship I was also required to carry out a lit review in order for writing of an academic paper on the symmetry of gait.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I was able to work independently in the lab with the CODA equipment without the aid of my supervisor. I was also able to teach others who joined the research team how to use the equipment too.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

My ability to independently lead a team in the lab and collect the data needed allowed my supervisor to work on other areas of the research at the same time, allowing work to progress smoothly.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Leadership, organisation, CODA equipment and software skills

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, motivation, logical thinking

Trainee Mental Health Support Worker – University of Exeter

Biosciences, Health Care, Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main responsibilities involved going on home visits with the well-being navigators to observe and support their one-to-one meetings with clients. I was also involved in co-facilitating the well-being groups across South Somerset offering support to people suffering with low level mental health problems. Alongside this I was carrying out a research project gathering information on the different support available for people with specific needs such as eating disorders, older people, bi-polar etc.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My biggest achievement was gaining practical knowledge of mental health and gaining the confidence to use this knowledge to support people who needed it.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to carry out this research project that the other staff would not have had time to do without me. I was also able to fill in for people co-facilitating the groups when they were off sick or on holiday.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Time and workload management, focus on goals and outcomes, research

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, personal awarenes and work ethic

HR Intern – Welstand Contractors Ltd

Access to Internships (A2I), Administration, Biosciences, Business and Management, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training, Psychology

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Payroll management, tax filings, VAT and VAT returns data base entries and maintenance, payslip distributions through emails and posts, communicate with clients and resolve any inquiries related to payroll

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt regulations related to employment in terms of hiring, tax computations and filing and VAT returns. Payroll management was very interesting and I was quick at learning to adapt to new changes in my workplace – a very new experience working abroad.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to learn quickly, the trainer felt comfortable to share his feedback openly and I was open to new learning which made it very easy for them to get work done from me in a short span of time.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Persuasion, ability to work under pressure, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Logical thinking, creative thinking, professionalism

Animal Care Assistant – RSPCA

Access to Internships (A2I), Animal Care, Biosciences, Charity and Development Work, Science

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Monitoring the welfare of all animals in the care of the RSPCA Cornwall branch. This included dogs of many different breeds, cats, and wildlife. I was also responsible for maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in various kennels and cages. I helped to carry out health checks, pre-adoption checks and sat in on vet rounds. I was also involved in enrichment for the animals, which involved walking the dogs and playing with the cats and kittens.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I was able to learn what it was really like working in the animal sector, which has really helped me to think about my future career. I feel I became more independent over the course of my internship, finding I was able to take initiative if faced with a problem.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

The staff are stretched very tightly at the moment and I feel I was able to make the hours when I was there less stressful for them. Some days I was responsible for cleaning entire blocks by myself which meant that the member of staff who would usually do this was able to sort out any problems or urgent paperwork.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Ability to work under pressure, organisation, time and workload management

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Initiative, independence, work ethic

Research Assistant – University of St Andrews

Access to Internships (A2I), Animal Care, Biosciences, Computer Science, Education, Teaching and Research, Information Technology, Science, Science, Sport and Health Sciences, , , ,

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My role was to assist primarily with the data collection aspect on a project studying working memory in New World monkeys. Every day I tested brown capuchin monkeys on their ability to remember the location of food items in the specialist research facility at Edinburgh Zoo. I also assisted with reliability coding of data already collected for different projects and collected long term, observational data on chimpanzees.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt how to work with capuchin monkeys in close proximity and conduct experimental, cognitive research with them. This is an extremely valuable skill for me and is a very rare opportunity to have. It will aid me immensely with a future career and further education in the field of primate research.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

As I was responsible for the data collection on this project, this allowed the principle investigator (PI) to have more time to carry out other tasks he would otherwise not have had the time to complete. My presence was also beneficial when the PI was unable to carry out data collection himself due to time away from the research site. I also spent a lot of time entering data on another project which no one had time to do before I joined.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Assessing and managing risk, IT, research

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, initiative, perseverance

eDNA Laboratory Internship – Applied Genomics

Access to Internships (A2I), Biosciences, Education, Teaching and Research, Health Care, Science, Sport and Health Sciences

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

During the course of the internship, my main role was to carry out general laboratory duties and perform eDNA testing on a variety of species from various locations. I was allowed to be completely hands on and I took part in all of the testing services that they have available as well as some of their research and development which consisted of some field work and gathering data. I also analysed various scientific journals to aid their research projects for further development.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt a huge amount in regards to the business, industry and general day to day tasks that are required within an eDNA business. I also gained a huge amount of laboratory skills working 1-1 with a very skilled technician.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I aided in their research as well as assisted in the laboratory to complete daily sampling tasks.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Problem solving, focus of goals and outcomes, networking

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, motivation, independence

 

 

Rosie, Waste Management Support Officer DCC

Biosciences, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

Degree: BSc Biological Sciences 2017

Job Role: A Waste Management Support Officer works for Devon County Council on various projects, including promoting schools waste education work, supporting the Waste@Work scheme and changing behaviour.

Rosie’s Experience: Completing a GBP is a perfect opportunity to try out a field of interest without committing the rest of your life to it. I have really enjoyed my internship but have realised that I prefer to be outside of the office. I now want to peruse a career in global wildlife health and conservation. My internship has given me confidence in all my soft skills, given me more to talk about at interviews and, I have also learnt that waste is a dynamic, interesting sector to work in and I might be interested in a more hands-on role here in the future.

Sam, Higher Education Project Officer

Biosciences, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

Degree: Biological Sciences at University of Exeter 2017

Job Role: A Higher Education Project Officer provides support for projects in the Exeter Education Incubator, supporting academics who are working on projects to reimagine how university education can be delivered.

Sam’s Experience: Applying to be a GBP arose at a difficult time post-uni, when my original master’s program was cancelled by the University and all other arrangements fell through. When I became aware of the job, I was interested immediately by the title, but when reading through the description it seemed like an area of employment I had little experience in. However, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to develop skills I have not yet used in a professional environment, as previous experience had been restricted to lab and kitchen work. The main skills I am learning so far are teamwork, meeting skills, project organisation and website design. I would encourage any graduate to apply for a GBP as they are the perfect opportunity to develop important career skills. The project and IT skills I learn should help me massively when choosing to undertake another masters next year.

Animal Care Assistant – The Flicka Foundation

Access to Internships (A2I), Administration, Animal Care, Biosciences,

horse

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

I was responsible for making up feeds and administering medication to horses and donkeys, and turning out and bringing them in from fields. I also did general yard tasks such as mucking out stables and sweeping. My other tasks included assisting with office work, putting together adoption packs for supporters, discussing ideas for improving the site, recruiting new volunteers and the upcoming open day. I helped out in the tea room when needed. I groomed and picked out hooves which is important for maintaining hoof health. I helped train new volunteers and work experience students, particularly in health and safety, important points about the running of the site and handling horses/donkeys. I also gave site tours and leading a group visit to the site from NCS, as well as welcoming visitors to the site, showing them round and talking to them about the animals.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I became more confident in teaching others how to work on site. This will be extremely beneficial when running the Flicka Volunteering Project associated with FXU in the coming academic year.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to lighten the workload by being an extra pair of hands around the yard. I was also responsible for training new volunteers so this allowed the yard manager to get on with her own jobs.

Marine and Freshwater Intern – Zoological Society of London

Access to Internships (A2I), Animal Care, Biosciences, Charity and Development Work, Education, Teaching and Research, Environmental Work, Marine Biology, Science,

marine

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

To support the Marine and Freshwater ZSL team, on the Penryn campus. Projects included literature review on the distribution and species of marine turtles in the Philippines; PET plastic bottles literature review and general support for the #OneLess project; Mangrove and beach forest medicinal properties; Artificial reefs and coral transplantation review for the Philippines.
I also attended a Marine conservation conference at the Penryn campus and a Marine Management Organisation Meeting with the ZSL team during my last week.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt and improved essential skills needed to work with an environmental NGO, such as networking, building relationships, organisation, managing work load, communicating with international environmental groups and promoting work via social media. It was great to gain experience within an office based team, instead of out on the field, which is the majority of my experience.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to support ZSL Marine and Freshwater by completing small, but essential pieces of work as well as contributing to larger projects. This lightened the work load for my colleagues in Cornwall, London and the Philippines.