Postgraduate Research:
Taught Programmes:
Other Opportunities:
Skills Training and Career Development
The aim of our training is to enhance the skills of our postgraduates so that, as talented individuals, they will be best placed for future careers in science and technology and in the increasing range of other science-related careers. Postgraduate training is undergoing significant change in response to the demands of these career environments and today's researchers require a wide range of academic and professional skills. Our Graduate Training Programme supports this agenda and we are regularly developing, updating and evaluating the programme to meet the needs of our students and their future employers.
Skills Training consists of a series of compulsory and optional activities designed to enhance the development of research skills and generic/professional skills. This scheme ensures that all students receive training relevant to their individual needs as they progress through their research programme and develop their careers.
Professional Skills Training
Training is provided locally or expert trainers are specifically brought in in response to student training needs. Students are supported by a full-time Training & Development Manager who in conjunction with the student and their supervisor ensures that Personal Development Plans are maintained and reflect the students actual development needs.
Students’ skill training is monitored and developed via Personal Development Plans which are discussed and reviewed at supervisory meetings, annual progress reviews and six monthly reviews with the Training & Development Manager.
Students are particularly encouraged to develop skills in science communication and research critique. Our renowned Friday Seminar series enables students to meet national and international speakers in person and a student seminar series enables students to discuss their work with their peers. There are also journal clubs, public engagements e.g. local Showcase of Postgraduate Research and work with the Teacher Scientist Network.
Research Skills Training
Technical training is designed to broaden the student's knowledge of the research field and to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary developments in plant and microbial sciences. Training courses on a wide range of methodologies are provided at JIC and also in conjunction with the Science Schools of UEA.
Courses provide specialist training in IT, computational biology, and a wide range of techniques and experimental approaches.
Students take mandatory modules for advanced skills training in statistics and experimental design, and in computational biology and bioinformatics.
Technical taster days and techniques workshops enable students to gain new ideas and identify the experts in particular research technologies.
Students learn many techniques simply by shadowing "the experts" anywhere in JIC's open-lab environment.
Career Development
Students are given appropriate career guidance by the supervisory team and the Training and Development Manager. We also have agreements in place with the UEA Careers Centre to provide support via a specific adviser specialising in postdoctoral career opportunities who operates a "careers clinic" involving one-to-one consultations. Students are encouraged to participate in national and international meetings relevant to their research and to become part of the international scientific community.
70 - 80% of our graduates continue in research in the UK, Europe and Overseas. Others have joined different science-related careers for example in the media and education.
The Student Voice Committee invites guest speakers to encourage students to be aware of the diversity of careers open to them. Recent speakers have included a patent lawyer and a scientific editor.