Science occupations
- General sciences
- Physical sciences
- Mathematics & statistics
- Life sciences
- Biochemistry
- Pharmaceuticals & biotechnology
- Science communication & medical writing
- Women in science
General sciences
- Vega Science Trust's Science Career Video Profiles - science video series gives an insight into the everyday lives of young scientists and engineers, from Biochemist to Robotics Engineer.
- Scientists for Global Responsibility - useful online resources for exploring ethical considerations in science careers
- New Scientist resources
- New Scientist online journal - science news and features
- New Scientist jobs
- New Scientist Study - science studentships and courses
- New Scientist Graduate Careers Special Supplement
- New Scientist Studentzone - guide to careers in science
- Science Careers from the American Society for the Advancement of Science - UK version can be accessed from Regional Portals. Jobs, funding opportunities, training, career development etc from undergraduate to postdoc level. 'Alternative careers' section.
- There is a useful handout in the Careers Service produced by Science Careers called 'What is the alternative? Careers away from academic research' (classmark V1). This lists options available including science communication; management consultancy; regulatory affairs; school teaching; patent law/intellectual property; science policy; research management and administration; bioinformatics. Please note that Science Careers is a US organisation.
- 'Career Basics: advice & resources for scientists from Science Careers' is a publication also available in the Careers Service at classmark V1. It has a range of articles including CV writing & interview skills; funding and grant writing; administering research patent law; life in biotech; careers in drug discovery; networking; female & minority experiences in science; leadership in the lab and scientific writing & publishing. Please note that Science Careers is a US organisation.
- Nature - international science journal with job section, including PhD-Studentships and posts for postdocs. 'Spotlights' articles on the science job scene in specific regions and countries
- The Royal Academy of Engineering's PolicyNet is a network of individuals working in science, engineering and technology.
- Royal Society - the independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth dedicated to promoting excellence in science.
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - funding and research grant information
- EuroScienceJobs.com - science jobs across Europe
- The Guardian has science jobs advertised on a Tuesday.
- Jobs.ac.uk for jobs in academia.
- Jobs in Science - science vacancy site.
- SCI - science online recruitment site. Register free to receive details of vacancies.
- SRG - Science Recruitment Group website.
- British Science Association - has an interest in science communication.
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Physical sciences
- EPSRC - Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council. The UK Government's leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences.
- NOISE - New Outlooks in Science and Engineering is a UK-wide campaign funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Initiated in 2000, it aims to raise awareness of science and engineering among young people.
- Careers in patents - Careers Service 'I want to work in...' guide with links to bodies concerned with patents and regulatory affairs, for which a background in physical sciences is commonly sought.
Profiles of other related roles on the Graduate Prospects website include:
Physics
- Cern Courier - online jobs resource for high-energy physics and related areas. Published by the Institute of Physics.
- brightrecruits - a job vacancy site run by the Insitute of Physics. Also includes information on postgraduate courses in physics and engineering.
- Institute of Physics - excellent careers section, including advice and jobs. Specific advice on what to do witha 2:2 or below.
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine - includes careers information on the roles of clinical (biomedical) engineer and medical physicist & vacancy listing.
- Royal Meteorological Society - the careers section is found under 'Our activiities'; includes course information, the route to becoming a Chartered Meteorologist and case studies ('spotlight on careers')
- Royal Astronomical Society - Includes vacancies and postgraduate section. General careers information is in the 'Information for university students' section.
- Society for Radiological Protection - some careers info and lots of background.
There are several profiles of physics-related roles on the Graduate Prospects website:
- Medical physicist
- Biomedical engineer (sometimes called a clinical engineer)
- Meteorologist
- Geophysicist/field seismologist
Chemistry
- Royal Society of Chemistry - has a useful jobs listing and careers pages with links to other relevant websites.
- ChemWeb - American site of general interest, with jobs section ChemJobs containing a good number of chemistry jobs in UK/Europe.
- Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) - a members organisation dedicated to the education and training needs of brewers & distillers and those in related industries. Includes a Guide to technical careers in the brewing industry.
There are several profiles of chemistry-related roles on the Graduate Prospects website, including:
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Mathematics & statistics
- Careers Service mathematics resources (PDF, 428 KB)
- Royal Statistical Society - careers section includes information on working as as a statistician in the actuarial, biometric, environmental, forensic, government, market research, medical, pharmaceutical and academic fields.
- Maths careers - a guide to options with maths for graduates, produced by the Council for Mathematical Sciences
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications - site has a careers section
- OR (Operational Research) Society - careers in which analytical methods are applied to decision-making
- Government Operational Research Service (GORS) - opportunities across a range of government departments
- Office for National Statistics - careers and jobs sections
- Government Statistical Service - recruits statisticians both via the Fast Stream and into direct entry posts
- The London Mathematical Society - the major UK learned society for mathematics
There are several profiles of maths-related roles on the Graduate Prospects website:
- statistician
- Operational researcher
- Research scientist (maths)
- Insurance and pensions, including actuarial work
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Life sciences
- I want to work in healthcare guide - check out our healthcare guide which includes details of science jobs in the health sector (including clinical research and biomedical science) and related roles like medical sales.
- I want to work in medicine guide - for information about becoming a doctor.
- Seven bioscience learned societies produced Next steps: options with a bioscience degree for bioscience students and graduates. View online or a reference copy is also available at 1c in the Careers Service. This guide includes information about: job-seeking in on bioscience & non-bioscience sectors; recognising transferable skills; postgraduate study options; making applications; interview technique; resources including job websites & sources of vacancies. Search our Careers Catalogue to find details of this and other relevant publications, including websites and electronic documents.
- Academy of Medical Sciences - careers in biomedical research, with information on training and funding; interviews with scientists about their career paths
- The Society of Biology - careers section and links to member bodies.
- BioIndustry Association - news, events, details of member companies, some careers biolinks.
- BBSRC - Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council.
- British Pharmacological Society - online career guide, vacancies, grants & really useful links
- British Society for Immunology - vacancy listings, postgrad course info & studentships
- Careers in Medical Research Charities - article from Jobs.ac.uk
- Careerscene - biomedical science jobs.
- Forensic Science Society- careers, courses & jobs.
- Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) - careers information and course details.
- Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) - careers information and relevant courses
- Microbes.info - microbiology information portal including employment and careers page with useful links.
- NHS Careers website - search for available jobs and view an A-Z list of job profiles. Includes information about the Healthcare Scientist Training Programme (STP), previously known as the Clinical Scientist Training Scheme. This scheme applies to England only. Wales and Scotland still recruit for clinical scientist posts. Welsh posts are advertised on the NHS Jobs website and Scottish posts on NHS Scotland when available.
- See also information from the Careers Service about the NHS Healthcare Scientist Training Programme (STP) (PDF, 336 KB). Includes: eligibility for the scheme; degree content; application form; application tips; other health career options (including e health careers); open days; who to contact for further information.
- The NHS Careers website also has useful What can I do with my degree? pages.
- Physiological Society - vacancy listings, PhD opportunities (under jobs) & links to careers pages (also under jobs).
- Society for Endocrinology - useful careers section, career profiles, information about courses, jobs, grants and useful links.
- Society for Experimental Biology
- Society for General Microbiology - careers information for all from 16 to postdoc, postgrad courses, funding & studentships. Includes career profiles of recent graduates working within the microbiology sector. There are a set of useful career handouts produced by the Society covering vacation work, postdoctoral research, healthcare sector, moving out of the laboratory, CV and interview advice and how to get a lectureship. These are available in the Careers Service at V1.
- Wellcome - includes sources of biomedical research funding.
There are several profiles of life science related roles on the Graduate Prospects website:
- Medical related scientific services including biomedical scientist, clinical scientist, histocompatibility & immunogenetics, immunologist and microbiologist.
- Scientific analysis including forensic scientist, clinical research associate, toxicologist.
- Scientific research and development including pharmacologist, research scientist (life sciences).
- Scientific technical support including scientific laboratory technician, animal technologist, teaching laboratory technician.
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Biochemistry
- Association of Clinical Biochemistry - news, careers, training and recruitment for clinical scientists.
- Association of Clinical Scientists - includes some careers information.
- Biochemical Society - jobs and grants (including for travel).
- Working as a Clinical biochemist in the NHS.
There is a job profile for clinical biochemist on the Graduate Prospects website.
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Pharmaceuticals & biotechnology
- BBSRC - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
- Pharmiweb - Pharmaceutical/medical-related jobs online, searchable by UK region - eg. for jobs in South West, links to company/professional body websites.
- Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) site about careers in the the pharmaceutical industry - careers site from the trade association for UK companies producing prescription medicines. Looks at a range of opportunities including drug discovery, clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, medical sales etc. and has a list of recruiters.
- PMLive - website of Pharmaceutical Marketing Europe magazine. Covers a range of pharmaceutical careers (marketing, sales, PR, medical writing etc.), with case studies and job vacancies.
- Pharmajobs - recruitment site with links to company profiles and online articles from Pharmaceutical Field magazine.
- One Nucleus - membership organisation for international life science and healthcare companies. Includes careers information and job vacancies.
- Life in biotech - article on Science Careers website (written 2003, with a US focus).
Information on a career as a Medical Sales Representative can be found in the Careers in healthcare guide.
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Science communication and medical writing
- British Interactive Group (BIG) - skills sharing network for individuals involved in the communication of science, technology, engineering and maths.
- How to get started in medical writing.
- European Medical Writers Association - 'Medical writing as a career' guide; jobs (freelance and in-house); training information.
- Science communication - general introduction written by Careers Service staff.
- Association of British Science Writers - including online text of 'So you want to be a science writer?' and information on bursaries for science journalism courses.
- Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators - includes a guide to courses.
- Working as a medical writer - article (2007) in the 'Alternative Careers' section of Science Careers.v
There is a profile of a Technical author on the Graduate Prospects website.
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Women in science
- Check out the article Nurturing women scientists from Science Careers (2008). Please note Science Careers is a US organisation.
- Association for Women in Science (AWIS) - US association.
- We have a copy of 'Success strategies for women in science' (2005) in the Careers Service which can be used for reference only purposes.
- There is also a section in the publication 'Career Basics: advice & resources for scientists from Science Careers' (2007) entitled 'Female and minority experiences in science' available in the Careers Service (again from a US perspective).