Meet the Team: Camilla Chandler
What is your name? Camilla Chandler What is your role at South Bristol Youth? Chief Executive What is your favourite part of your job? I love seeing our young people develop across all…
Find out moreBy Steph Francis
The theme of this year’s STEM week is time. Time is central to an enormous number of scientific research and discoveries, from the time needed for penicillin to grow through to the movement of celestial bodies in the universe. Time is also central to this blog post because we want you to think about whether it’s time to consider a STEM career (hint: yes)!
Below, we have listed 5 careers in STEM, some that you will definitely have heard of and some that may surprise you. There are so many jobs in STEM that we just want to give you a taster so you can go and really explore all the options. We’ve given you a quick summary of what they involve and how to get in to them:
The path to becoming a fully qualified doctor is a long one. You will first need to apply to, and be accepted at, a medical school (this is a slightly more in-depth process than a lot of university applications so it’s worth getting support from your careers advisor early). You will then need to complete a medical degree (which takes 5 years). You then enter a two-year foundation programme and receive a full license to practice at the end of year 1 (you get a provisional licence at the beginning of year 1). After that, it will take 8 to 10 years for you to reach consultant level in your chosen specialism.
To take your first steps on this career path, you will need to start by gaining a degree in a science such as chemistry, chemical engineering, or pharmaceutical science. You will then need to gain work experience as a laboratory technician (graduate roles are often available in the larger commercial labs or in the labs of universities themselves so it is worth speaking to staff as you are approaching graduation). You will also need to start developing a network of other people within your field as this will help increase the likelihood of you being able to find a role as a fragrance chemist specifically. It isn’t a requirement to have a MSc or PhD; however, some employers may prefer it as you will have learned a lot of the regulatory and safety details you would need to otherwise be taught when you start.
For a job as a cybersecurity analyst, you will need to gain a degree in a relevant subject such as computer science, network administration, database management or cloud computing. You will then need to earn a NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) certificate by completing a series of training programmes. There are an array of additional certifications you can earn to demonstrate your ability to perform specific activities as a Cyber Security Analyst (such as being a Certified Ethical Hacker!) You will also want to gain some relevant work experience to help with your career journey. Whilst not all companies will expect you to have a relevant Masters Degree or Doctorate, many will so it is worth exploring Graduate Degree options, giving consideration to what area you wish to specialise in.
To become a medical AI scientist, you will need, as a minimum, a degree in a relevant subject such as genetics, medical microbiology, biomedical science or physiology. Generally, people that enter this field are also working towards a MSc/PhD in a relevant field too. Employers will also look for significant lab experience which can be gained via a year in industry whilst studying or work experience during breaks in study (this may be available in the labs of the university you are studying at).
To get into this field, you will need a degree in mathematics, science or something related (like geography). You can find volunteering or internship roles to help you gain experience. The Met Office offer a traineeship with their Forecasting and Observation course (this is highly competitive).