Forensic scientist
Sarah Moss
In a nutshell: Analyses seized drugs to provide evidence in criminal cases
Why: âMy work is an integral part of many convictions, and that gives me a real sense of accomplishment.â
It may not have the glitz, glamour and five-hour hairdos of the US TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation but a career in the UKâs Forensic Science Service (FSS) can be just as exciting.
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Real-life forensic science is often a high-speed race to process evidence and single out a suspect, says 24- year-old Sarah Moss. âItâs definitely a deadline-driven job,â she says. âWhen the police need to build a case quickly before they can act, we often have to get evidence in, analysed and reported on within the space of an hour.â
Sarah analyses and identifies drugs seized in criminal investigations â everything from a wrap of heroin weighing less than a gram to hauls of cocaine of up to 10 kilograms. âThe really interesting cases are the big ones where thereâs a lot of evidence and a large number of suspects,â she says. âTheyâre more challenging, as you might have to prove the provenance of a drug, linking it to a suspect or place. With a larger case you can really get your teeth into the job of narrowing down the field to just one person.â
Sarah won her job on the team without a forensic science degree. The diverse work within the FSS means that there are jobs available for graduates from a variety of science and engineering backgrounds. âThe processes and analytical techniques used in forensic science were unlike anything I had done on my neuroscience degree,â she says, âbut having a research-based science degree with lab experience did help me get the job. And once I was in, there was a period of intense on-the-job training to get me up to speed.â
Later this year Sarah will move into the fingerprints department, where she will retrain and increase her range of skills. The move will take her closer to her goal of becoming a reporting officer â a fully-trained forensic scientist, responsible for a team and required to attend crime scenes and stand up in court. Real-life forensic science may not live up to the TV hype, but for Sarah, reality is definitely better than fiction.
Laura Deeley
Volunteer science teacher
Peter Jurd
In a nutshell: Helping to rebuild Rwandaâs education system after the genocide
Why: âTeaching is a varied, challenging and stimulating job, even more so in Rwanda where better education standards and well-trained teachers will help shape the countryâs future.â
Two-thirds of Rwandaâs teachers were killed or exiled during the 1994 genocide. Following the terrible events, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) began working to rebuild the education system, and teachers like Peter Jurd are a vital part of that process. Peterâs role is not only to teach science but to impress on his students the importance of a good education after years without adequate teaching. âEveryday life here is full of difficulties,â he says, âso things like homework and turning up on time can go to the bottom of the list. Itâs often frustrating, but thatâs part of the reason why Iâm here.â
After graduating in 2000, then working in a UK school, Peter decided in 2003 to join VSO and continue his career abroad. âI felt a strong desire to help others in the world, and wanted to do it while I was still young and had few ties or responsibilities in Britain. The VSO allowed me to fulfil these goals.â VSO volunteers offer their professional skills in education, health, social development, engineering and environmental management in 35 countries around the world.
Peter now teaches physics, biology and chemistry to A-level standard as well as training new science teachers. Becoming a volunteer may seem daunting, but it is well worth it, he says. âLeaving behind home comforts can be harder than you think, but you shouldnât let that put you off. My time in Rwanda has been an extremely rewarding experience.â
ÂLeaving behind home comforts can be harder than you thinkÂ
Laura Deeley
Exhibition manager, the Science Museum, London
Emily scott
In a nutshell: Puts together exhibitions dealing with breaking science and technology news
Why: âI love seeing the gallery lights go up on a new exhibition, when a few days before, we didnât know what the story would be.â
We donât usually associate museums with the fast-paced life of the news journalist, but Emily Scott deals with the latest, breaking developments, from bird flu to the Beagle landing.
Emily works at Antenna, an exhibition space devoted to science news at the Science Museum in London. Antenna comprises two types of exhibition: the longer-running âFeaturesâ deal with wider issues in contemporary science and technology, while the âRapidsâ deal with breaking science news and have the fastest turnaround of any exhibition in the museum. Emily manages the Rapids team.
Emily graduated with a bachelorâs degree in biology in 1995, then went on to do a PhD at the University of Cambridge, before spending three years working as a postdoc researcher at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Oxted, Surrey.
Working on the Rapids means the team needs to be ready to pull an exhibition together at breakneck speed. âWe have been known to create an exhibition in under 48 hours,â says Emily. âWhen news broke in May this year that Korean scientists had cloned the first human embryo tailor-made for stem cell therapy, we wrote the content in a day, had panels printed overnight, and were installing the exhibition early in the morning before the museum opened.â
ÂWe have been known to create an exhibition in under 48 hoursÂ
The turnaround is usually a little longer, at eight days on average. But thatâs still a tall order for an exhibition that will include not only text, images and video but often inventions, scientific equipment or even a panel of experts. For instance, during the Cassini-Huygens mission, scientists were answering visitorsâ questions before the spacecraft entered Saturnâs orbit.
âThe great thing about the Antenna exhibitions is that unlike print or television news, weâre able to tell a story in three dimensions,â says Emily. âWe can put the story into greater context and so add a new level of understanding for our visitors.â
Laura Deeley
Investment-banking analyst
Camilla Richards
In a nutshell: Advises high-powered clients on their financial options for business deals
Why: âIt was the most challenging sort of career I could have done.â
Camilla Richards would be the first to admit that she works tough hours. âItâs not unusual to work until six in the morning,â she says. âYou have no social life and you can never plan anything, as you never know when youâre going to have to spend the whole weekend in the office.â There are few people that could cope with this, but Camilla has always enjoyed a challenge.
Her job as an investment-banking analyst with US financial services giant Citigroup is stressful by anyoneâs standards. She spends up to 20 hours a day analysing complex financial information, valuing businesses and assessing investment options for high-powered clients. The role is certainly taxing, but she says her masterâs in physics from Imperial College London has come in surprisingly useful since she graduated in 2004.
âHaving a physics degree helps fundamentally as it teaches you to break things down into their constituent parts,â she says. âYou can apply theories to anything. Physics students are good at problem-solving, and have analytical brains. And maths is important for understanding information. Some people who havenât got a maths background can find it a struggle.â
Camilla did a Citigroup internship at university in 2003. She says that business skills can come in handy for all graduates, even if they pursue a career in academic research, by helping them win funding more easily. âI went back to university with lots of new skills. Learning about banking helps with the administration and research side of science,â she says. âScience and business are definitely mutually beneficial. I would recommend an internship to any scientist thinking about going into banking.â
And despite the long hours and stress, scientists like Camilla who choose a banking career can expect some fine rewards. The median starting salary for investment banking trainees is ÂŁ35,000, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters. âThe money is good, though thatâs not why I do it,â says Camilla. âBut it is nice to be able to pop out at lunch for a pair of Jimmy Chooâs.â
Sarah Warwick
NHS microbiologist
Albarah El-khani
In a nutshell: Analyses patient samples to diagnose infections such as MRSA or hepatitis, and suggest how doctors should treat them
Why: âItâs great working hand in hand with doctors to benefit patients. Knowing someone got better because of us is incredibly satisfying.â
Most lifesavers expect praise and glory, but not Albarah El-khani. As a biomedical scientist in the NHS, his job is to analyse and diagnose patient infections â but few people realise how important his role is. âWeâre only in the background, most people donât ever think of us at all,â says Albarah. âBut doctors often donât know whatâs causing an infection and are treating patients blindly without our input.â
When doctors and nurses in the local NHS trust suspect an infection, they send patient samples such as blood, urine or tissue to Albarahâs lab in Epsom, Surrey, for diagnosis. âIf youâre squeamish itâs not the best job to do,â says Albarah. âMost people would hate handling the samples â particularly tissues such as uterus or foetus.â The most memorable sample he received was a gangrenous human foot in a bucket.
ÂThe most memorable sample he has received was a human foot in a bucketÂ
The infections most frequently diagnosed are hepatitis, HIV, MRSA, UTIs (urinary tract infections) and food poisoning. âMRSA is the biggest thing at the moment. We get about 100 samples a day and it has really increased our workload.â
After a bachelorâs degree in biomedical science, Albarah applied to the NHS in 2001 and has since trained on the job. In 2004, he picked up a masterâs degree in medical microbiology, and without it he would not have won his present role as a senior scientist, he says. Albarah is now responsible for running his section of the lab, authorising results and overseeing testing.
Though he is not on the front line of the NHS, Albarah still feels the pressure. âWe canât just turn off the computer at the end of the day and go home,â he says. âIf we miss deadlines then patients donât get their results and canât be treated. The worst case scenario is that the patient dies as a result.â
And while patients might not realise Albarah is helping them, this remains his favourite aspect of the job. âItâs great working hand in hand with doctors to benefit patients,â he says. âKnowing someone got better because of us is incredibly satisfying, even if we do lack the gratitude we deserve!â
