On Friday 12th March 2010, CK Science, the leading independent scientific and engineering recruitment agency, visited The University of Hertfordshire, to award a prize to the best Industrial Placement Year.
The prize was awarded to Emily Rivers. Emily completed her placement year at Southend University Hospital. The placement was one that Emily successfully secured herself, and was unpaid.
In order to generate some much needed cash Emily made money by:
Training as a phlebotomist and working part-time in the clinic
Working as part-time Medical Laboratory Assistant in the evenings
Emily was holding down 3 jobs during her placement year. Despite this, she still successfully completed her portfolio well within the time period and impressively gained a Distinction at the City and Guilds Licentiateship. Speaking of her achievement, Emily’s supervisor said that she was an asset to the department and had the potential to “take her career far”.
Benefits of the Industrial Placement Year
Completing a placement year is a great way for students to not only gain invaluable work experience but also to increase your employability. Research shows that 70 per cent of employers prefer students with work experience.
Taking a placement is also a useful way for you to explore possible career opportunities and help you make potentially valuable contacts to help you once you have graduated.
Completed an Industrial Placement Year in Science? Register with CK Science Now!
CK Science is a leading independent scientific recruitment agency for science jobs. We successfully help some of the top scientific, chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies from around the world to recruit high calibre individuals to their science jobs.
We are always on the look out for science graduates who have completed an industrial placement year. If you are an experienced graduate looking for your dream job in science, register with CK Science here.
In partnership with the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, scientists at the University of Manchester and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will be working together to investigate how the biological clock controls inflammation in lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
It is hoped that the £500,000 study, which will be funded by GSK, will lead to the development of new drugs that will target how the internal body clock regulates the severity of inflammation. The team at the University of Manchester will be headed up by Professors Andrew Loudon, David Ray and Kath Else. This team will work closely with colleagues in the Discovery Biology group at GSK.
Speaking of the collaboration, Professor Loudon or the faculty of life sciences, stated:
“Many inflammatory diseases are highly rhythmic in presentation and often worse at night. We believe there is also a strong rhythmic control. It has long been speculated that asthma and other inflammatory conditions have an underlying clock mechanism controlling the severity of the disease. These clocks are all over the body, including in cells responsible for the immune response in the lung. In addition the way we metabolise drugs is highly rhythmic. Our aim is to gain a sufficient understanding of this process so we can target key parts with specific new drugs.
“We are working with GSK not only to develop new drugs to alleviate symptoms but also reveal optimal timing of therapy, known as chronotherapy. This is a new and exciting area of research. It is being taken very seriously in France, for example, where researchers have for some time been studying the importance of timing of chemotherapy in cancer. This study is just one at the beginning of an exciting new phase in circadian rhythm research.”
Inflammatory diseases of the lung are a major cause of mortality world-wide. In the case of COPD, the progression of this inflammatory disease is irreversible once commenced. In the UK 27,478 people died as a result of COPD in 2004. Other diseases with an inflammatory aspect include asthma, which is a predisposition to chronic inflammation of the lungs in which the airways are reversibly narrowed.
Our client is a food manufacturing organisation and a major player in the food industry. They require an NPD Technologist to join their team based in the North East of England.
Reporting to the NPD Manager, you will be responsible for the day to day running of the onsite NPD function. This will include running development projects, technical transfer to full scale production and planning daily work schedules for the NPD technicians. There will also be some element of customer liaison in the NPD Manager’s absence and training staff.
The ideal candidate for this NPD Technologist role will be qualified to minimum HNC level in food technology or related subject or possess equivalent industrial experience and have a proven track record working in NPD.
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career with a leader in the global food industry.
How to Apply
For more information or to apply for this NPD Technologist role, please contact Barney Smith on 0191 384 8905 or email bsmith@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference DH19450 in all correspondence.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days of your application for this role, it means that on this occasion you have not been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment campaign. Entitlement to work in the UK is essential.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
Our client, a major biotechnology company is currently looking for a Senior Process Technologist to join their Manufacturing department based in the North East of England.
As Senior Process Technologist your role will involve:
The introduction of new products
Prioritising plant preparation and start up activities
The allocation of tasks to members of the production team
Accountability for the introduction of new and existing products
Acting as a focal point for process performance issues
This Senior Process Technologist role also involves managing a small team of document technicians and manufacturing scientists ensuring all documents are compliant with company standards and laboratory scale process development and scale up activities during early stages of technical transfer.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join an exceptional company which offers innovative solutions at the cutting edge of research.
To be considered for this Senior Process Technologist role you must have a proven background in a similar role and be of graduate calibre.
How to Apply
For more information or to apply for this Senior Process Technologist role, please contact Heather Deagle at hdeagle@ckscience.co.uk. Please use reference number DH19448 in all correspondence.
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
Our client, a key player within the Chemical Sector, are currently looking for a Technical Manager to join their team based in the North-Mid Wales/North West of England area.Technical Manager will lead the technical department ensuring it effectively and efficiently meets the current and future needs of the business.
The roles and responsibilities of this Technical Manager position will include:
Leading and managing the Technical and Laboratory Functions.
Ensuring efficient management systems, working practices and reporting systems are in place.
To reorganise the department into a flexible, efficient resource that meets the varying technical needs of the business – today and tomorrow.
Clarify the roles and responsibilities within the Technical Department and introduce management by objectives, appraisals and similar techniques to monitor and manage performance and outputs.
Keep abreast of legislative and technology changes and manage the threats and / or opportunities they bring.
Establish first class housekeeping, health and safety, MSDS management and similar laboratory procedures.
The ideal candidate for this Technical Manager position will possess an HNC qualification in chemistry or degree in chemistry (or equivalent). Previous experience of working with formulations/ coatings/ paints in a laboratory environment is essential and the candidate will be expected to possess excellent communication, problem solving, leadership, planning and organisation skills and be a good team player. A knowledge of industrial and marine coatings is also desirable but is not essential. Candidates must be eligible to work in the EEA.
How to Apply
To hear more or to apply for this Technical Manager role, please contact Victoria Walker on 0114 283 9956 vwalker@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference SH19409 in all correspondence.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days of your application for this role, it means that on this occasion you have not been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment campaign.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
There are a number ‘feel good’ buzzwords or phrases that you should use on your CV or application to help make your CV or application form sparkle.
The following competencies and associated keywords may help you when putting together a CV or application form when applying for your next job in science:
Do you have any ideas as to other buzzwords you think might help a CV or application form stand out from the crowd? Please leave your thoughts in the comments box below.
Our client is currently looking for a European Technical Sales Specialist to join their team. This European Technical Sales Specialist job is a technical sales role, in which you will be responsible for providing field technical and application sales support within sections of mainland Europe with higher than average market potential (Benelux / Switzerland / Austria / Southern Germany).
Working closely with the European Sales Director, as European Technical Sales Specialist, you will manage large client accounts and support local sales teams to develop a niche market with fewer but larger clients.
The ideal candidate for this European Technical Sales Specialist role will be degree qualified (or equivalent) and will have experience of working in a laboratory with technical instrumentation. Previous Key Account Management experience is also essential and experience of working in a similar role covering vaccine producers, small biotech, blood banks etc would be advantageous. You will also have research laboratory applications experience and previous successful experience in developing customer relations. It is essential that you have a willingness to travel extensively to accomplish assigned objectives (60% or greater) and the ability to speak French and or German and or Italian would be a distinct advantage.
We are looking for people either based in or willing to relocate to Benelux, Brussels or South Germany primarily or people based in or willing to relocate to Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria or Southern Europe generally.
How to Apply
To find out more about this European Technical Sales Specialist role, contact Jason Johal on 01438 723 500 or email jjohal@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference ST19401 in all correspondence.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days of your application for this role, it means that on this occasion you have not been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment campaign. Entitlement to work in the EEA is essential.
About CK Science
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service to both our clients and candidates.
According to a report by The Royal Society, if the UK does not invest heavily in science and scientific research, it will face decades of sluggish economic decline.
The report warned that Britain’s current advantage is in danger of being wiped out by the US, China, India, France and Germany who have increased spending in science to help boost their economies. For instance, the German government has said it will increase their budget for education and research by 12bn Euros by 2013.
Sir Martin Taylor, chair of the report’s advisory group stated: “As France announces a new €35bn investment in the knowledge economy, the UK cuts university budgets by £600m, with the threat of more to come.
“The UK has been in the top two of the scientific premier league for the last 350 years. It would seem obvious that politicians would recognise the need to invest in this competitive advantage rather than cutting funds.”
Lord Waldegrave, former Science Minister and provost of Eton College said: “Times are tough but this is exactly when you need to invest in the future and focus spending where you already have an advantage.
“Investment in science cannot be turned on and off on a political whim – we must have a long-term investment. If we cut science now, just as the benefits of nearly twenty years of consistent policy are really beginning to bear fruit, we will seriously damage our economic prospects.”
The report praises the fact that patents granted to UK universities have increase by 136% between 2000 and 2008, and that university spin outs employed 14,000 people in 2007/2008 with a turnover of £1.1bn. However, it seems that research and development is a weakness for the UK – in 2007 British companies spent 1.14% of GDP on R&D while in the US spent 1.9% and Germany 1.8%.
Experts in the field recommend the following to help remedy the situation:
Creating a 15 year framework for science and innovation with increased spending.
Prioritising investment in scientific skills and infrastructure, such as laboratories and equipment.
Better aligning science and innovation with global challenges.
Revitalising science and mathematics education.
And expanding the R&D tax credit.
Lord Sainsbury, the former science minister and member of the advisory group said: “We cannot compete with countries such as China and India on the basis of low wages, and science and innovation must, therefore, be the basis of the strategy for growth which we need to have as we go into a tough period of fiscal consolidation.”
Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings, part of a worldwide association of independent pharmaceutical companies, has been announced as the 5th best company to work for by The Sunday Times. This is the first time in the 4 years the company has entered the contest, that they have broken into the top 5.
According to the survey conducted by The Sunday Times, one in five employees at Napp has worked at the company for over a decade. Further impressive findings include:
84% of staff believe the company makes a difference to the world.
83% love working for the company and are happy with their pay and benefits.
69% of staff believe they are paid fairly for the work they do relative to others in the organization.
71% say their salary reflects their responsibilities.
77% of staff report that Managers regularly express their appreciation when a team member does a good job.
80% believe that working at Napp is good for personal growth.
This positive culture at Napp has been the product of Managing Director, Antony Mattessich. He introduced the company ‘charter’ which established four core aims of the organization. This initiative allows employees to have their say on the direction of the business, giving them the freedom to discuess with the departments as to how they can help the firm meet its objectives.
Julie Worth, Area Sales Manager, has been part of the charter group. “It just amazed me — I was actually having a say in how the business was run,” she says. “You’re working with directors and you learn that people are genuinely approachable. They really listen.”
Mattessich’s positive impact on the company was reflected in the results of the survey conducted by The Sunday Times:
73% of employees agree that senior managers listen to staff.
81% feel inspired by Mattessich’s leadership.
87% of employees are proud to work for the company.
So, what in your opinion makes a company a good place to work? Please feel free to share your comments and stories below.
Our client a major biotechnology company based in the Central Belt of Scotland is looking for a permanent Protein Scientist.
Working as a Protein Scientist, you will join a busy team working on scale-up and GMP manufacture of protein conjugates. You will synthesise protein conjugates and develop purification protocoal, using HPLC based techniques for characterisation. You will also participate in writing process instruction sheets for manufacturing, validating processes and equipment and in technical support of manufacturing activities.
To be considered for this Protein Scientist role you will have a good understanding of general protein handling techniques is required, together with an appropriate qualification in Biochemistry or similar. Entitlement to work in the UK is essential.
If you would like to hear more about this Protein Scientist job, please contact Heather Deagle on 0191 3848905 or email hdeagle@ckscience.co.uk. Please quote reference DH19129 in all correspondence.
CK Science is the largest independent scientific recruitment company in the UK. Our team of specialist recruiters are here to help you achieve your career ambitions within the scientific industry. We actively offer you careers advice, help with writing your CV, assistance with interview preparation and up-to-date information about the industry. We pride ourselves on providing an honest, straight-forward and trustworthy service toboth our clients and candidates.
On Friday 12th March 2010, CK Science, the leading independent scientific and engineering recruitment agency, visited The University of Hertfordshire, to award a prize to the best Industrial Placement Year.
