• Question: how long did you have to train for to become a scientist

    Asked by wolf to Kate, Jordan, Emma on 9 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Emma Wellham

      Emma Wellham answered on 9 Jun 2018:

      I studied at university for three years doing human biology, which is a kind of science, and involved lots of research and work in labs. My current training post is 3 years working in a hospital and studying at the same time to become a qualified cardiac scientist.

      If i’d known what I wanted to do for a job earlier in my life, I could have done a cardiac healthcare science degree first, which is three years, and started working in a hospital after that, or other people get training posts in the NHS straight out of school. If I wasn’t a cardiac scientist, I think i’d want to be a paramedic!

    • Photo: Jordan Moir

      Jordan Moir answered on 10 Jun 2018:

      I studied at university for 4 years and had a placement in my third year extending my degree to 5 years. My placement was in Blood transfusion lab where I completed my training portfolio. My degree was in Applied Biomedical Science. I also volunteered and went on many lab visits by writing to various labs and asking the worst they can say is no and it is normally due to staff shortage or they are unable to allow visits for health and safety reasons. NHS offer many different training programmes so have a look at their website for more information. Some of the staff in my lab began as biomedical support workers whilst they were completing there degree to help fund it. When you become a scientist this is not the end of your training it is only the begining as you are continuously learning on every shift and also training new scientists and long term members of staff new skills to help progress their career. If you are interested in biomedical science the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) website has great information about getting into this career.

    • Photo: Kate Kuyt

      Kate Kuyt answered on 11 Jun 2018:

      I think we are all scientists, as we are learning about the world around us by trying things out, which is a form of research and discovery!

      I went to university to study medical sciences which took three years. After a little break I went to work for a company and helped with medical research/experiments. I am now studying for my PhD which will take another 3 years, I am just over half way through at the moment.

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