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To never miss another career profile subscribe :) 1. Name : Lynn Asante-Asare 2. Course/ job: Graduate Medical Student (MBChB) at Leicester Medical School. Visiting Scientist, Professor Kevin M. Brindle Molecular Imaging in Cancer Laboratory, Cambridge Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute 3. A levels : Biology, Chemistry, Maths with Statistics, Economics 4. Undergrad degree BSc Honours in Biomedical Sciences with Intercalated Year, University of Warwick 5. Postgraduate degrees PhD in Medical Science, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge (St John’s College) 6. Journey in 3 words Unconventional, Lonely but Amazing 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? When my friend had leukaemia, cancer research and clinical trials become a source of hope for all of us. I decided to become a cancer researcher when he passed away. 8. Outside science how would you describe yourself? Witty, and down to earth. 9. What made you decide to pursue a SECOND Doctorate? I was one of the first students to support Cancer Research UK’s Sponsor a Young Scientist Scheme, where charity supporters would pick a CRUK-funded student to follow throughout their PhD. I’d write my supporters regular letters them about my daily research, achievements, failed experiments, and more. By the second year of my PhD, I felt weary that my letters were so science focused that little of what I was writing was relevant to them as people dealing with the effects of cancer. I needed to be closer to the bigger picture so I started volunteering in a Macmillan Cancer Care drop in centre within the Oncology department of a local hospital. Three hours every Monday afternoon, I was talking with cancer patients, and their families. Sometimes we sat quietly, tissues in hand as they cried, and sometimes we flicked through post-treatment recipes using Macmillan’s cook books. A month into this role, I was visited by a lovely lady who explained that although it had been six months since she finishing her chemotherapy, she was still experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. She wanted my advice on why this was, and what I could recommend to help her symptoms. I knew the science behind the effect of chemotherapy on cells in the gut, and how that would lead to her symptoms but I couldn’t help here there and then. One of the healthcare professions in the ward nearby could though. At that point in time, my research knowledge was of little use to her, which showed me that while science changes healthcare of the future, medicine was about being on the front line and supporting patients in the present. I wanted to do both. 10. What advice would you give considering your path? Always make the best of the career you already have, even if you’re not sure if it’s your final destination. The first time I had a career-changing moment was in 2011 when my friend passed away and I decided to become a cancer researcher. It wasn’t until 2017, 6 years later, that I decided to go into medicine after failing to use my knowledge of the molecular biology of the gut to help a sick cancer patient. These defining moments don’t come often so while you’re waiting for a sign for what to do next, make the best of what you have! Many of the skills and achievements you gain will be transferrable. 11. What did you struggle with the most in making the decision to pursue your medical degree? Many things: - Retraining: the majority of scientists initially told me not to go into medicine because I would be starting my career all over again. This was also because medicine is an undergraduate degree, not a doctorate, so it doesn’t equate to a masters or PhD, which are higher postgraduate degrees. I worried I was taking several steps backwards by going to medical school. - Finishing my PhD: most students hang around after their 3-4 year funding to get advice with their thesis submissions, do mock viva exams to prepare for the real one, and finish off publications. I would have to leave early, before my 4-year funding was up, to start medical school. I had some anxiety about finishing my PhD, alongside any new commitments as a medical student. - Cost: graduate medical students, whether on a 4 or 5 year course, must pay some or all of their tuition fees upfront. Tuition fees are now £9250 per year. There were also maintenance and course costs to consider. I didn’t know how I was going to keep up with my research career, do medical school, and work to fund the degree. - Friends: Every time I move to a new city, I lose friends. I’m 28 years old and so far I’ve lived in London, South Africa (shortly during my gap year), Coventry (BSc at Warwick Uni), Liverpool (Intercalated Year in Industry), Cambridge (PhD), and now I’d be moving somewhere else for medical school. Most of my friends are now well established in their careers, and I feared that they’d outgrow me. When people start buying houses, getting married, starting businesses, having children, their circles often fill with people at the same stage of life as them. As a medical student, I feared I’d be left behind, and replaced with friends with real jobs. - Relationships: Becoming a medical student meant I would be taking a pay cut, and my primary income would be from savings and student finance. I worried that any potential other-half would find that off putting as I wouldn’t be in the most abundant financial position to secure a large rental or a mortgage in the short term. Getting married, and having children became more of myth the more going into medicine and studying for longer became a reality. I didn’t want to hold anyone back. - Fitting in: PhDs makeup the minority of students going into medicine so I worried that I wouldn’t fit in, or that I wouldn’t find anyone within the immediate medical school environment that I could relate with and talk to. 12. How do you feel the Science world has evolved throughout your career? ( what are some hard truths you have had to face?) The public space for scientists trying to tackle diseases is commonly occupied by medical doctors. But now, there’s a growing understanding that laboratory researchers actually do an incredible amount of work towards tackling the burden of disease. A lot of the hard work happens in labs, not just the hospitals. You’ll see that Cancer Research UK adverts, which previously focused heavily on doctors and nurses interacting with patients, now feature laboratory scientists! This has increased the amount of biological scientists carving careers in public engagement. I welcome this because for too long publications and grants have been the principle ways to judge a scientists success. It’s good that there are now other parts of a scientists role that are being valued. My hardest truth is accepting the impact an unconventional career path has on non-career related aspects of life. I could be earning more money at this stage in my life. I could have been back in Cambridge with my friends still doing research full time. I should be free from undergraduate-level exams by now and going abroad on holiday more. I’m very happy but still a realist. 13. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? Not much. I did a vacation placement with a law firm during my PhD and had the opportunity to pursue patent law within Biotechnology after my PhD. I picked going to medical school, so clearly money isn’t a strong driving factor just yet! Links to find out more about Lynn: - A day in cancer research with The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/life-on-the-front-line-in-the-battle-against-cancer-000chp8vs - Science and Black History Month 2019 with the Women Making Waves podcast at Cambridge 105 Radio: https://womenmakingwaves.co.uk/episode-26#a7faa997-da6a-4a74-a487-0f355a91aa9a - “Why Research?” with St Johns College Cambridge: https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/meet-lynn-asante-asare-phd-student-south-london-who-came-cambridge-join-fight-against-cancer - Black Researchers changing the future at the University of Cambridge : https://www.cam.ac.uk/bhmresearchers - Signed Science with Deaf Youtuber Aliko Lu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5iSsRWOu48 Social Media - Twitter: @LynnAsanteAsare - LinkedIn: Lynn Asante-Asare To never miss another career profile subscribe :) I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1.Name Nataša Lazarević 2. Course/ job PhD in Health Science and Physics at University of Sydney (@Sydney_Uni) 3. A levels/ equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) – biology, history, English, art, German and Mathematics 4. Journey in 3 words Challenging, fulfilling and motivating 5. Briefly describe your role or course My PhD is in the fields of eHealth, machine learning, computer-vision technology and anatomy. I am lucky enough to teach anatomy and histology to undergraduate, and postgraduate students (Medical and dentistry students). I am also passionate about promoting the equality of underrepresented groups in STEM so I co-founded Visibility STEM Africa (VSA - @ViSTEM_Africa) with Nathasia (@Tasia1409). 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I was always curious about the intricacies of the human body. Growing up in Botswana shaped who I am as a person and I wanted to give back to the communities. At the time Botswana had the highest global prevalence of HID/AIDs globally and I thought the best way to tackle that was by becoming a HIV immunology researcher. By the time I completed my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in Immunology), the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Botswana was more manageable due to the increased availability of anti-retroviral therapy. I also felt that the field of immunology and infectious diseases was more geared towards data acquisition and publication output rather than research transferability. I wanted to try something different and I was lucky enough to find a summer scholarship project about the use of technology to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals. I enjoyed it so much that it became my PhD project! I ended up realising that I can contribute to communities using different methods and that is why the VSA initiative is very close to my heart. The initiative aims to promote the visibility of Africans in STEM on the continent and beyond in order to inspire future generations. 7. Work- Life Balance I am pretty good at time-management because I had to balance working in hospitality and studying throughout my undergraduate degree. I am currently a PhD student, an anatomy and histology tutor and the co-founder of VSA so I tend to experience busy periods often. I have gotten better at putting my wellbeing first before my work, but it is still a work in progress. It does not help that I am more of a night owl due to all the work in hospitality. My aim for this year is to try to get into a better sleeping habit and to go to health-associated appointments (i.e. dentist and optometrist) more regularly. The irony of being a health researcher is that we do not always look after ourselves! 8. What advice would you give someone wanting to follow the same path? Do not let the anxiety of what might not even occur in the future prevent you from trying Learn to make time for self-care and for friends and family Be open and honest about failures If you are struggling, reach out to others for support. If you cannot find support in your immediate environment the twitter STEM community is really lovely. Be open to new opportunities even if they seem scary at first Dip your toes in interdisciplinary projects. Working with people from different fields is such an important skill to have. Learning how to say no, especially when you are busy is such an important skill. 9. Did you do a summer internship before your PhD? If yes do you believe has benefited you? - if not do you think it made applying for a PhD any harder ? I completed a summer scholarship that lasted 3 months, which ended up becoming my PhD project. The experience was extremely beneficial for me and gave me an idea of what the field would be like as well as how my supervisory team would be. Because of this experience, I managed to transition into a field that is different from my undergraduate studies. 10. Do you feel a shift in research culture (positive/ negative) I feel that universities, especially in Australia have had to change their operating models to a more corporate structure to accommodate the cuts in government funding. Such corporate models does not seem to translate well to academia. Due to this I think universities tend to be more focused on how many students they can fit in a classroom rather than the quality of student learning. I also feel that general university student culture has become more focused on getting good grades rather than enjoying the experience of learning. I have noticed for instance that students sometimes choose courses because they have heard they can be awarded an easy high distinction rather than because they are interested in it. This tends to lead to a lot of students expecting that getting good grades will immediately result in a job. All university services have now become centralised (i.e. ICT, student support, HR and finance services), which from my experience has not made things easier for me. However, I am quite optimistic that researchers will persevere through this period and that university models will shift back to a focus on the quality of learning rather than university revenue when more government funding returns. 11. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in? It depends on whether the scientist is in academia or industry. From my understanding industry paid jobs tend to be better paid than those in academia, but the overall enjoyment of what you are doing is what matters most to me. I do wish the PhD model in Australia was more like that in Europe where you are treated as a professional rather than just a student. 12. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? Most of my career decisions have been based upon finding a fulfilling career that I am passionate about rather than a high-earning career. Reading “How to find fulling work” by Roman Krznaric helped me tremendously with major career decisions and transitions. 13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope to have completed my PhD and received a post-doctorate fellowship in a different country. I want to become a leading researcher in the eHealth and digital health fields. I want to change the way people monitor their health and interact with health professionals. I hope that I can continue teaching as I thoroughly enjoy it! I hope that the VSA initiative keeps growing and that we can eventually hold more events and perhaps even scholarships/funding. To never miss another career profile subscribe :) Where can readers find you? Twitter: @NataLazzza Instagram: @nattalazza Linkedin: Natasa Lazarevic Visibility STEM Africa Website: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ Twitter, Instagram and facebook: @ViSTEM_Africa Linkedin: VSA – Visibility STEM Africa Nataša Study Abroad Post https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/study-abroad-nata%C5%A1a-and-leyla Nathasia, VSA co- founder profile https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-neurobiology I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

As a life science/ biological science graduate you worked really hard but post university can sometimes leave you feeling as if your efforts were in vain especially if you seek monetary satisfaction. Looking for jobs post graduation often had me screaming when I saw some salaries on offer. Some of the jobs if not most required postgraduate study when a decent salary in my opinion was offered, which can sometimes not be the route you want to take. This post is updated yearly ( last update Jan 2022) : Subscribe to the TCIM newsletter for unique insights on the life science industry here As my blog highlights through the numerous career profiles, there are a wide range of careers that life science graduates can go into. These can either directly use skills taught during our degree or the transferable skills that are always so often spoken about. Lets get into it ! Pay Bands Pay bands are pre defined salary ranges determined by organisations ( example NHS in the UK) or institutions. Many academic establishments have pay bands related to roles. This is free to find on the website and gives you a good idea of what you could be given. The minimum pay point on the band is usually given with the least amount of experience. With more experience, you can grow within that pay band and usually a new qualification or further study or training leads you into a higher pay band. Examples of Pay bands NHS Universities: UCL, Imperial, Manchester . These are just examples to give you an idea of where you will fall. Categories Jobs where a Bsc is sufficient Jobs that require post graduate qualifications (Msc) Phd graduate jobs Jobs where experience can balance out post graduate qualifications A lot of the information in this post will relate to the UK, the overall ideas on how to handle expectations should be applicable. The average salary across the UK is £37,428 according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) with the top 10% of earners averaging a salary of £60,890 for both genders but when split, men earn an average of £41,185 with the top 10% earning £67,4589 and females in full time employment earn £31,819 with the top 10% earning £50,909. You can already see the discrepancies between genders. This data was taken across all jobs in the UK. For life science graduates it is quite difficult to get a realistic expectation of your earning potential, which is an incredibly important piece of information as you did leave university with the aims or hopes of finding employment. Most of the most recent reports across platforms like The telegraph , save the student and BBC in relation to life science graduates, there are never any clear statistics and we are generally left in the shadows. Medicine, the pharmaceutical industry and biological sciences are usually grouped in broad terms but but never an in depth review of what should be expected according to different fields and based on specific job titles. This is something this post aims to address without getting too long. Jobs where a Bsc is sufficient This is the easiest point to branch into other fields, that can be working as an events organiser or building your skills as a project manager. Entry level positions in labs or the pharmaceutical industry will be most directly related to your life science degree. With courses such as biomedical science and any NHS schemes offering easy progression. Here is what pay could look like Outreach officer - entry level with some experience in education £26,000- £30,000 NHS STP trainee - start at band 6-- £30,000 and progress to band 9 entry level biomedical scientist starts at band 5 £22,000-£26,000 and progresses to band 7 orr 8 = £31,000-£49,000 and consultants earn more teacher - trainees are paid between £17,000- £28,000 and qualified pay ranges are £24,000-£35,000 with head teachers earning more than £100,00 Medical sales: starting between £18,000-£24,000 with senior roles at £40,000 excluding possible bonuses on sales Jobs that require post graduate qualifications (Msc) A masters degree will provide that extra sprinkling of expertise in a specific field. This is also an opportunity to branch into an are that interested you during your undergrad degree E.g of career journeys on switching from biomedical sciences to law or psychology and medical ultrasound. Psychology - trainees start at NHS band 6 - £30,401 and can grow within this role to band 8- £80,000 Patent law attorney pharmaceutical industry - trainees can earn £30,000-£37,000 and top roles have you earning up to £500 000. Clinical Scientist trainees - these cover a range of roles from cardiac scientist to immunologist and microbiologists. Entry roles start at nhs band 6 (£30,000) and can progress to bands 7/8 - £70,000 Communications manager / public relations - early careers can earn £22,000 and can increase to £40,000 and senior roles earning £100,000 Pharmacist - pre reg trainess £16,000-20,000 and starting salaries post registration at £35,000 and senior roles £70,0000 Science education officer - £30,000 Phd graduate jobs Phds are often sold as student roles, when i think they should be considered as a job. In the past a Phd was seen as the stepping stone into academia, but in reality they are now the stepping stone into almost anything. The only major con is that you could be earning significantly lower than your peers and in some cases take a pay cut if you had previously been working, but this is something you should consider before pursuing one. With a phd, you can work within academia as a post doctoral researcher, research assistant or pharmaceutical industry. You can also work outside academia in science policy helping advise government on key issues and help with desicion making. Researchers in schools - with several routes they offer a tax free bursary route of £28,000 or the salaried route where you may have already taught in schools. Science education officer - £30,000 Science policy - assistant roles at £22,000 and senior roles in excess of £50,000 Postdoctoral researcher starting at £27,000 and can earn at high level positions as seniior lecturer £43,000-£58,000 and professors at an excess of £100,000 Note with phds, you are often in control of your own time and therefore could supplement income doing other jobs such as brilliant club, paid outreach, literally anything !! Jobs where experience can balance out post graduate qualifications: Roles where your day to day may not use your degree. But the base knowledge and transferrable skills are definitely a plus Science communication/ medical communication - £30,000 - £35,000 Marketing within the science industry - at assistant level start at £18,000- £22,000 but senior roles can lead up to £60,000 with marketing directors earning more than £100,000 Science writing/ journalism - starting at £15,000 but increase to £35,000 for more senior roles. This can also be a freelance opportunity. Museum and exhibition curator - salaries can range from £20,000 and at senior roles lead up to more than £40,000 Food For thought Is it impossible to want to be a high earner and pursue a career in science thats is not trying to be a medical doctor Are we underpaid for our efforts especially in the early stages? Should we accept that in our fields it is common for it to be a slow burner vs high monetary reward since the work we do does contribute to the betterment of human life and is there an actual price you can put on this? Do you believe only high risk jobs should lead to high reward? Find out my thoughts in the next blog post and be sure to subscribe Prospects is the most comprehensive site that gives information on graduate salaries in the UK. NHS Afc pay band scale and NHS careers are also incredibly useful resource once you understand the bands you can find yourself on and how far up these bands you have the potential of progressing. Searching Job titles can also give you a feel of a realistic salary expectation. References - https://www.findcourses.co.uk/inspiration/articles/average-salary-uk-2018-14105 https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/ashe1997to2015selectedestimates https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/teachers-salary-and-teaching-benefits/teachers-pay-scale-salary https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Name Ayodele Osobu Course/ job Biomedical Scientist, Medical Microbiology A levels Biology, Chemistry, Philosophy & Ethics Journey in 3 words Extensive, enjoyable and stimulating Briefly describe your current role I currently work within a research unit, providing services for resistance testing of HIV, analysis of HIV transmission events for public health related investigations, HIV subtyping via sequencing, Hepatitis C virus whole genome sequencing and Herpes Simplex virus testing via cell culture-based phenotyping and genotyping. I work within a World Health Organisation globally specialised HIV resistance laboratory. I have been fortunate to work on various assays within my current role and I’m mainly involved in the genotyping of HIV and HSV. Genotyping is crucial in the treatment regimens for patients who are on antiretroviral therapy and are experiencing drug resistance, timely and accurate testing ensures that those individuals are put on the correct drug, thus, relieving patients of their symptoms as well as suppression of further complications. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I always knew that the standard ‘9-5’ in an office wasn’t for me and I have always shown an interest in science, my original plan was to become a surgeon, thus, this would require medical school and further training. The idea of having a practical career involving interactions with different people whilst treating them was my passion. However, I did not achieve the required grades for medical school and this lead me onto a degree in Biomedical Science with aspirations to study graduate entry medicine. I ended up enjoying my degree and this lead me onto a scientific career. Work- Life Balance Work life balance is essential for me, outside of the lab, I run an accessories boutique and I assist at a tutoring academy teaching GCSE Chemistry and Biology. I utilise my evening by completing my home duties (cooking and cleaning) then I would spend a bit of time replying to customer emails and checking my product inventory. Other days I may prepare material for my student as well as attending church and socialising with friends and family. My time management is crucial, but I enjoy being busy! What advice would you give someone wanting to follow the same path? Firstly, I would highly suggest completing a course with a year in industry/ taking a gap year out from your studies to complete an industrial placement. The experience and skills gained during this year will benefit you in the long-term, as a graduate. Employers are keen to hire an individual who has left school with transferable skills. The skills gained through your industrial year will give you a ‘head-start’ in the recruitment process and you will preferred over the graduate who has no experience and a degree. Keep perservering through-out your degree and challenge yourself to go above and beyond to become successful. Any science-based degree is not easy but with the right mindset you will succeed. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 5 years from now I see myself working as a working as a senior biomedical scientist, training to become a clinical scientist working in Public Health, alongside healthcare professionals in order to treat disease and assist with public health investigations. I also see myself running a successful fashion boutique, whilst inspiring the next generation of future scientists/healthcare professionals. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in ? Hmmm, this is debatable lol. I do feel as though salaries, especially within the NHS should be more, we put in many hours and process many samples and we do not see much financial reward. On the contrary, locum scientists, private pharmaceutical companies and private hospitals have very attractive salaries and benefits including luxury company cars. But this comes with its cons. Personally, I would like to try working as a locum and a field application scientist due to the benefits 😉. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? When considering my career path, I did think of the salary, of course! But then again I knew that great things take time and there are so many different career paths to take with a degree in Biomedical Science which will lead to £££ , it’s not good to be in a haste, so I’m putting in all the work now to enjoy later! If you found this useful please share and subscribe to the newsletter x Other TCIM biomedical scientist career profiles BIOMED TO LAW : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-biomed-to-law BIOMED TO PSYCHOLOGY: https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-bsc-biomedical-sciences-msc-psycology I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

Name: Julia J. Grey-Coker Course: B.Pharm. (Hons.) A levels : n/a Journey in 3 words: demanding, exciting, eyeopening Briefly describe your role or course Pharmacists are responsible for drug dispensing and regulations. A key role in the healthcare delivery system as drug misuse and abuse are leading causes of illness and mortality. Every drug has side effects and adverse reactions that could lead to more harm than good when not administered appropriately. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I have always had a curiosity for how healing worked. That curiosity developed into a passion to make people heal and that passion has kept motivated through time. Work- Life Balance Studying pharmacy has been the most demanding decision I’ve had to make. Maintaining a life meant having to work extra time to clear off deadlines before due dates so I could be there for friends and family. I experienced difficulties keeping up social relationships in my pre-pharmacy years but as I got through I found a working mechanism to balance both out on the best days at least. What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree? The most candid advice I would give anyone wanting to study the same degree is to be prepared to be devoted and committed to studies before anything else as that is the only way you would be able to stay in stride and moving forward. The slightest of distractions will make you lose focus and that is all it takes to fall below average. Did you always want to do your course? No, when I initially thought about med school I wanted to do Medicine( MBCHB) but looking closer, I came to realise that Sierra Leone’s health care system lacked other key members of the chain, pharmacy being one. And drug abuse was becoming a social and health concern especially among youths. Upon research, I came to familiarise with the roles of a pharmacist and have loved every moment up to today. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, professionally I see myself as a registered pharmacist investing in providing quality pharmaceutical service in my community and to the health system of Sierra Leone as a whole. What is your biggest pet peeve about how the world perceives science. My biggest pet peeve might be that science is too complicated and scientists are people without a life. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in ? In Sierra Leone, not really no… but we can't put a price on life, I doubt we would ever agree on a salary grand enough for someone saving it on a daily. The passion would always have to suffice and surpass the monetary expectations I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Enjoy x Name: Saffie Kaiwa Degree Title: International Relations & Brain and Cognitive Science What influenced your decision to study abroad? I have a number of factors that influenced my decision to study abroad. Firstly, it is a requirement that students studying International Relations study abroad for at least a semester. Secondly, my university’s study abroad program gives the opportunity to also intern at influential offices pertinent to your major. This creates a platform for networking and possible job opportunities after graduation. What were the main things that affected your final decision? Honestly, I just wanted to get away from the hassle of the USA and experience something different from what I was used to. Moreover, Brussels is basically the hub of international relations so that directed my decision. What did you value the most about your experience? The weather. New York is frigid and snows heavily for days. There are days when I actually dread going outside because of how cold it can get and this lowers my motivation to do anything. Having mild and conducive weather all through my stay in Brussels, forced me to do everything that there was to do. The weather was definitely a highlight of my stay there. What was the hardest thing about your experience? The hardest thing about my experience was the inconvenience when it came to certain things. Everything in the US is so easy to get and find but that was not the case in Belgium. It was a feat getting something as common as business checks which can be found in any Office Depot in the US. Other than that, living in Belgium was honestly the highlight of 2019. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I have come to realize that stress does not equate productivity and effectiveness. Brussels made me realize that I do not have to be busy or stressed out to feel like I am accomplishing my goals. Since my study abroad experience, I have realized that having actual leisure time does not mean I am resting on my laurels or being complacent. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? It definitely has because doing my short time in Brussels, I got to sit in on meetings at the European Parliament, Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Human Rights Office and other important institutions. I got to understand the roles of these offices, their goals and challenges, what is practical and what isn’t. Given the knowledge I have gained, it is given that these experiences have given me an edge. I can at least say I know what some of these offices look at/for, what they gravitate toward and what inclusion they want, therefore, I can adequately prepare to cater to those needs. Name: Ramota (she/her) @TheRamota Degree title: Biological Sciences What influenced your decision to study abroad I wanted the opportunity to explore a world different to my own, study abroad gave me the opportunity to take courses I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to otherwise. This is because the American education system allows for a bit more freedom. What were the main things that affected your final decision I did a full year abroad, as an add on to my 3 year degree. I decided that an extra year would be a great addition to my CV. It would make me stand out, and it wouldn’t make a difference in the long term. What did you value the most about your experience The opportunity to explore a new city/country. Try out new courses like public health and psychology and psychopathology. It led to my interest in public health and epidemiology, which eventually led me to my PhD. What was the hardest thing about your experience Adapting to a less diverse city. As a black woman moving from London, a smaller town in Michigan took a while to adjust to. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? It’s helped me become more open minded towards my education. It reduced my narrow depth of possibilities. And it also has given me the confidence to move more freely around the world. It also gave me confidence to do my masters research abroad. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I believe it has shown my resilience and ability to adapt to new settings. It also shows that I am willing to try new things and that I have a broader sense of understanding besides my degree. So I do feel as though if that was the only degree I had it would make a difference. How did you fund your study abroad? My study abroad was funded through student finance, I was given standard student finance based on estimated cost for the city. And I was also working part time whilst abroad.

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Name ;Nataša Lazarević (she/her) Degree title :PhD in Health Science and Physics What influenced your decision to study abroad? I finished high school (an International Baccalaureate - IB programme) in Germany. My plan was to go to the United States for university on a tennis sports scholarship. I unfortunately injured my left ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – ligament of the knee) so that meant no tennis scholarship. I was distraught and I felt like all my plans were ruined. When I perceived my plan was in turmoil an unexpected opportunity came along. My German student visa was expiring, and my mum had moved to Australia. She was lucky enough to receive an Australian family visa. That visa type no longer exists, so we are pretty lucky. The visa meant that I could study and work in Australia, so I thought why not go there! So, I guess my main advice to you is even if you feel like everything is falling apart be open to opportunities that come along. What were the main things that affected your final decision? My mum had moved to Australia and I had not lived in the same country as her for 3 years. I also think Australia is pretty beautiful and lovely apart from what is currently happening with the bushfires. Another reason was the visa issues I had in Germany. I already felt more accepted in Australia because of the visa I received. What did you value the most about your experience? Living in different countries exposes you to more cultures and ethnicities. Australia is multi-cultural with a rich indigenous heritage. I enjoyed living on my own for the first time and trying to find a casual job. It helped me develop more independence and self-awareness. What was the hardest thing about your experience? I was an international student the first year of my undergraduate medical science degree. That meant paying $40, 000 AUD upfront per year. I would not have been able to make it without the help of my mother. It also meant that I worked as a waitress during weekends and some weeknights. I felt such guilt and self-induced pressure all the time. I did not look after myself well because I was constantly worried about finances and my mother having to pay such a large fee. When I received an Australian permanent residence the university fees went down to $9, 000, which made a massive difference. I did not have to work as often, and I could enjoy the student experience more. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I guess the biggest lesson I learnt was to look after myself regardless of the situation. To put myself first before the degree. I still have trouble with self-care, but I have gotten much better. Balancing working and studying improved my time management skills. It also exposed me to people outside of academia. It improved my communication and team-work skills. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I think living in different countries is valuable. I have been fortunate enough to have lived in 5 countries (Germany, Serbia, Botswana, United Arab Emirates and Australia), which exposed me to different cultures and languages. Being able to work with people with various backgrounds and personalities is extremely important. It also helped me view issues from various perspectives improving my ability to problem-solve. Please add any useful pages/ websites that helped you make your choice below When searching for universities I looked at the Times Higher Education World University Rankings Choosing based on the country is also important. You want to not only study hard but enjoy yourself. I searched a few of the tourist websites. I wish I investigated what course I wanted to do in more detail and searched blog posts. I chose medical science because I found it interesting. It would have been great to hear from a former medical science student. Name: Leyla Mouli (She/her) Degree title: B.S. Environmental Sciences What influenced your decision to study abroad The ability to diversify my education by taking courses not available in my home university What were the main things that affected your final decision: Availability of financial aid/scholarship, the ability to transfer the credits earned, and the city/country of the study abroad. What did you value the most about your experience: exploring new places, learning new cultures. What was the hardest thing about your experience: many things are going on during a short period of time, and before you realize it, it’s over. The hardest thing was definitely finding the right balance between my academics (it’s a STUDY abroad after all) and my social life and travels. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? My experiences studying abroad expanded my intercultural competencies, and I came out of them as a person who is more respectful towards other cultures, confident in changing settings, and eager to learn and rediscover. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? Yes, it unequivocally did. While studying abroad, I gained different perspectives regarding my field of studies. Those came from the more diverse courses I took, the diversity in the student population (hence different backgrounds and opinions), and the unique teaching styles. I therefore became more globally proficient in my field, which I think was a positive aspect for my employer.

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Enjoy x Name: Isata Kargbo Degree title: MSc Public Health What influenced your decision to study abroad I had been searching for a masters programme in the UK and was instantly put off by the £10,000 loan given that I already had the £9,000 to pay for my undergrad. I had been planning to go travelling for 10 weeks, which I did and so it kind of just clicked to me that maybe I should study abroad. Thus, I used my love for travelling to my advantage and searched for universities in Europe that offered a Masters in Public Health. What were the main things that affected your final decision To be honest, I never had anything that affected my decision. The website that helped me greatly was Www.prospects.ac.uk. They had all the information I needed. I.e costs, length of study, requirements. Anything you can think of they had it. I then found myself looking at masters programs in Sweden and to my surprise they were free for European citizens and that was deal breaker for me. What did you value the most about your experience I met people from various countries and it was interesting for me to see how people lived and thought about life outside of London. I think that you get a big culture shock when you do leave London and you genuinely become aware of how your environment shapes your thoughts and actions. What was the hardest thing about your experience The culture of the swedes. They’re very reserved and if you don’t make an effort to make friends, you’ll literally have no friends. I think that it’s such a quiet country and I’m so used to the noise here in London that sometimes it made me feel lonely. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I would say that it’s made me a bit more determined. If I want to do something, I will do it in my own time that is. I must say that it’s made me want to learn a bit more especially improve on my general knowledge and so I do find myself reading a little more or researching things I don’t know a little more also. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? Yes I believe it has. I think that I’m a bit more confident in my wants and needs and I know that when I apply for a job, employers like to see how you adapt to various situations which I always present in my applications. Also, it appears experience tends to be more valuable nowadays than the degree itself so a part of me is again proud to know that I’ve gained quite extensive experience that can be seen as desirable to future employers. How did you fund your study abroad? I simply worked and saved up before I went, then once I was out there I got myself a job as a nanny and then in retail. Name:Mariama (She/her/) Degree title:Politics and Sociology (BSc) What influenced your decision to study abroad I have always wanted to experience living in another country and studying abroad made that a reality. I don’t have specific sites, but personally looking up the individual universities, cities and the interesting facts about them really helped my decision. Also speaking to students who had been there, as well as students who were thinking of going there and their reasons, either put me off or got me even more hyped up What were the main things that affected your final decision As a Joint-honours student I was only allowed to do a semester The classes my host university had to offer Location – the city/country. Is this a place I would like to visit and live in for 6 months? What did you value the most about your experience I’d say the beautiful people I met and the friends I made. The conversations I had. They really shaped my experience and made it turn out the way it did. What was the hardest thing about your experience Me missing my family and friends. For the first time I was in a different time zone and they weren’t at my beck and call lol. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I think most importantly it has taught me to cherish moments and valuing time spent with friends. Practically, I think I’ve become more confident. Living in a different country and surrounded by a different culture, you are kind of outside your comfort zone, it’s like you’re thrown out to fend for yourself (well at least that’s how I felt) and that can be really terrifying. Now I feel like I can approach situations differently than I did before. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I really haven’t used it yet, but I have been told it can be used. From what I have gathered it is the adaptable skills that you inevitably gain from living in another country within a short period of time that employers find useful, but I might be wrong. How did you fund your study abroad? My tuition fees were covered. I just had to pay for accommodation, health insurance and a meal plan.Student finance covered most part, my university had some bursary available not specifically for study abroad students, which I applied for.My personal funds covered the rest. Since my host university was outside of the EU I wasn’t eligible for the Eramus programme

It's been enough time and maybe even slightly overdue to reflect back on two amazing experiences that have directly contributed to where I am now. I completed a 10 week lab internship during the summer of my second year of undergrad with my university. The summer after graduation just before my masters I completed another 11 week internship as “ Biology Week” Intern for the Royal Society of Biology. Both experiences were quite different and allowed my to decide what i liked even though neither directly relate to my current masters in medical ultrasound. Here is what i learnt Biology Week Intern Do things the best the first time round - i would say this is the most important thing I directly applied to my everyday life. I had to write blog posts and help with many documents for events. The university mentality I had was always to just write what I had in mind and then fine tune later. Weeks of being here taught me to treat my first draft as if it was my final and with this mindset I produced more sound and thought out work. Pushing through to get things done- Working in an office can be quite monotonous - you cant avoid things like sending emails and the mundane tasks. To get through this i just had to get into a IT HAS TO BE DONE mentality to actually complete it. Now applying this to my masters, there are quite a few things i hate doing but having the GET IT DONE gets the task done faster. Your work depending on other people and waiting for approval - i really developed patience and got an understanding of the deeper thought that goes into big organisations. Documents go through many people and working with others means you may have to wait a little before things actually get done an i guess this was the most frustrating aspect of it all. Small talk - You are around people almost every lunch so building up what you want to share is something that was quite interesting. This ties into another point of ensuring your environment is one you feel comfortable in. I don't really beleive any job is worth it if you are basically suffering in all your time away from the desk The range of roles your science degree are applicable to - I specifically worked with the events, communications and outreach teams. The amazing thing about the office is that everyone I came across had some sort of science degree ( Bsc, Msc, Phd) and had either worked in their fields prior or completely switched after graduating. Everyone was genuinely happy to be where they were contributing to a beautiful cause. It taught me you shouldn't pigeon hole yourself early on and to always be open to new careers you are interested in. Science degrees are honestly gold and leave you so many options. Your passions don’t need to be solely science and you can still have loved your degree and move into something completely different. Still currently figuri g out what i like the most and how i can intertwine my passions. There most definately is a way! Summer Lab This was a while back so i've added things i also learnt during my 3rd year while i did my lab based dissertation. Independence - it is a quite isolating time and you are solely responsible for the progression of your project on a daily basis. It made me realise how much i liked human interaction and the level i wanted wasn't something the lab could offer me. , Problem solving / independent thinking - you are left alone in the lab quite a lot and expected to maage your time and be responsible in the things you do. When things don't work you may have to wait some time for help and to combat this you learn how to think a little more and start coming up with possible solutions. Being okay with failure - experiments fail all the time even when you think you did everything perfectly. Constantly trying and something not working really taught me how to not let negative emotions get the best of me. The begining of my " WE MOVE" phase The wider context of science-"doing" science is more than the thirst for new information, it encompasses the wider global position of science and research, healthcare, education and more. Being in the lab particularly solidified my love for academia. I found myself in a supportive lab environment and although I didn't decide to follow a laboratory path, it highlighted the importance of strong mentorship on enjoying the placement you are in and planning your next steps. If you found this useful or think it would be useful don't forget to share with friends and family Lab life series https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/lab-life-1-i-m-learning https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/lab-life-2-i-want-to-do-a-phd https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/lab-life-3-aggression-in-zebrafish Useful blog posts Places that offer summer internships Cv and internships Getting through application season

“They” - being parents, teachers, environment, loved ones painted a picture of “ if you do A, you WILL get B”. Did society fail us by not adequately preparing for the inevitable cycle of disappointment and confusion? On one side you could be angry but on the other, can we really blame anyone? Will I tell my 13 year old brother that his next great idea may not lead him down the path he thinks? Can you really ever be prepared? Nobody really used to talk about all the weird inbetween stages from A that actually get you to B. With the growth of social media and this new “podcast era” a range of experiences are being highlighted and more realistic ideas of how success is achieved are being pushed forward. On the negative side of social media, people highlight their success, which they have every right to but is often sprinkled with a come up story of struggle and hardship. Which again i have no issue with. What is lacking in our generation where we “overshare” as some may argue, is sharing the state of confusion and not knowing what to do. This could present itself in many forms such as not liking your initial path that you had idolised or completely feeling out of your depth constantly because nothing seems enough. These are things I struggle with and I know I am not alone. I am extremely passionate about a few things and I would be lying if I say anxiety hasn’t kept me up many nights with constant doubts and “what if”. The realities are that you may be extremely enthusiastic about something, try it and HATE it… That is part of the process and if not the most important part in finding what you really like. Think about these things as your non-negotiables when it comes to your future career. There isn't a completely straight forward path and that is completely OKAY. There is so much we can learn from our mishaps, perceived failures or temporary confused state. To add, there is a privilege in saying “no” to something you are not 100% passionate about because you have the luxury to explore other passions. In other parts of the world passion is just a mere hobby as there is no established industry to nurture talents. If you find yourself in this situation, I cannot speak from personal experience but going against the grain and networking across may turn your hobby into your actual career. So i hope society begins to diverge away from the "I knew since i was a kid" to more transparency around the "i am 25 and still confused". Thanks for reading Adama x Here are some blog posts that highlight the crazy inbetween phase Azro - A neuroscience Masters graduate that changed universities and took a gap year at the begining of her journey. Elodie - A current Phd student studying malaria vector control but before that dropped out of her previous phd. She highlights this journey in an external post on "10 priceless things she learnt as a young scientist" External Borderless podcast - A bi-weekly podcast hosted by a young Sierra Leonean who is passionate about story telling. Discussions with people all over the world. Not science based but the discussions are interesting.

1. Name :Umu Wurie 2. Current Course:LLM Legal Practice course (LPC) 3. A levels:Biology, Chemistry, History 4. Undergrad and postgraduate qualifications Undergrad- Biomedical Sciences BSc Post grad- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL/ conversion course) and current course above 5. Journey in 3 words Exhilarating, intense, fun 6. Briefly describe your courses Biomed – study of the human body from a very broad perspective with modules ranging from biology-based topics like virology and immunology to topics that focus on the development and industrialisation of therapies. I did several lab practicals and reports and a dissertation analysing the efficiency of pre-clinical tests done during the drug development process to prevent hepatocellular injury Graduate Diploma in Law – a mandatory conversion course for post graduate students who didn’t study undergrad law (LLB) but want to pursue a legal career. The LLB is condensed into an intense year-long course that introduces you to legal theories, covering principles, legislation and all key subject matter concerned with the study of law. I had 7 core modules, a dissertation (2000 words proposal and 8000 words thesis) and a self-development module which required participation in a range of activities to develop your legal skills; I participated in Mooting/Advocacy and Client interviewing competitions. LLM LPC – the LPC is required to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales. It combines learning about substantive law, regulations and procedures with practical skills. This course is a lot more practical and focuses on developing your ability to apply your legal knowledge to real client cases. I had 3 core modules, 3 electives, 5 skills modules. The LLM aspect of my course consists of 2 modules – a dissertation/ law review & reform and a negotiation and case analysis module. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I always found biology fascinating and I wanted a deeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms in the body – how they function, the physiological effects of things going wrong and how to solve problems through therapies. 8. What influenced your change in career path? I did a module during my undergrad degree that focused on the financial and legal considerations that biotechnology companies had to make. It became clear that the progression of science and the healthcare sector relied a lot on the legal frameworks that exist. I became passionate about understanding the law and developing the business acumen to assist and protect companies/inventors/scientists to produce inventions that could really help society. 9. What advice would you give anyone wanting to follow your career path? Doing research is key. You’ll have to research/ explore different aspects of law and be clear on what motivates you to pursue a legal career, whether you’d like to be a barrister or solicitor, the type of firm you think would suite you in terms of the work they do and the culture. Don’t panic! You won’t have all the answers but just be open to exploring your options. Networking events are an amazing way to meet lawyers and possibly get a mentor – mine is a life saver. 10. What transferrable skills from your undergraduate degree apply to your chosen career path? -Curiosity/ analytical skills: in science you’re constantly questioning why something works the way it does/how to prevent diseases/how to improve the body. I find that being intellectually curious and wanting to question concepts/learn more is extremely important Resilience: biomed was fun but intense. I learnt to juggle lots of things without losing my mind 11. Looking back, what advise would you give your undergrad self? “I can’t come and kill myself” Burna Boy 2018 12. What is next? I have just secured an internship at an amazing law firm. I’m very excited about that and looking forward to what the future holds. I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

Name: Adama Course: Medical Physiology A levels – Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Economics Journey in 3 words – Eye-opening, fun and challenging Briefly Describe your course? – Medical physiology as the name suggests is the study of the human physiology with an emphasis on disease. You mainly study the aetiology of diseases. My course overlaps with many other life sciences such as pharmacology, biochemistry, microbiology and genetics. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? I was initailly motivated by the idea of becoming a Dr, as i gained more exposure to the different aspects of biology,my passion was fuelled by my never ending thirst for new knowlege and understanding different pathways involved in disease.I always loved biology, I liked learning how things worked in our bodies from early on. Till this day it blows mind how intricate the human body is. What drives you to stay motivated? – Studying a science degree where you have approx 15 hours of uni per week can be very draining. I genuinely enjoy most of the content taught. When I find content hard, the fact that I enjoy it makes it that much easier to go over and complete. The times where I find content boring, I see it as a means to an end. I have to learn it to get where I want to be in the future. Work-life balance – Plan and be very aware of all your deadlines, prioritise work over everything. Have something you are committed to outside of education and if you pace yourself well there is plenty of time to do everything you want. Advise – Immerse yourself in your course and never be scared to ask questions. Planning is key if you want to make the most of your time in uni, your course does take up a lot of your time, but make sure you build your love for science outside the content they teach you. Attend conferences and talks whenever you can. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and that's okay, it is part of the journey. Finally, don’t let others success make you doubt yourself.