Careers Talk WHRI Asaf Federman June 2010

Staff numbers in academia Source: HEIDI database: HESA. Academic Staff FTE Cost Centre (13) Agriculture & forestry

fixed termopen ended Aberystwyth University424 Bangor University2327 The University of Central Lancashire130 The University of Greenwich843 Harper Adams University College691 The University of Lincoln1943 University of London05 The University of Nottingham1624 The Nottingham Trent University1322 The University of Reading4487 Scottish Agricultural College22164 The University of Warwick00 Sum aggregate HE institutions Employing in Agriculture & Forestry

Staff and PhD numbers in academia Source : HEIDI database: HESA. Academic Staff FTE Cost Centre (10) Biological Sciences: research only VS research and teaching. Student FPE – HE Qualifications obtained, JACS Subject Area (3) Biological sciences, Doctorate.

Metcalf, Hilary, Heather Rolfe, Philip Stevens and Martin Weale (2005) Recruitment and Retention of Academic Staff in Higher Education National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Research Report, No 658 p.107Recruitment and Retention of Academic Staff in Higher Education National Institute of Economic and Social Research,

The Supply and Demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Skills in the UK EconomyThe Supply and Demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Skills in the UK Economy by Department for Education and Skills, p.20 ISBN

What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject.What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject. Vitae 2009.

Years total number of 250 PhD graduates 56% 9%

What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject.What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject. Vitae 2009.

Years total number of 5135 PhD graduates 56% 9% 41% 4% 55%

Beyond Academia

The industry (SEMTA report) (Semta Bioscience labour market survey 2006) 29% of employers responding to the survey report skills gaps among their current workforce. Most often these are among the following occupations: laboratory scientists, senior scientists, other managers, senior researchers science managers. The following recruitment issues have been raised by employers as having an impact on their recruitment: Bioscience graduates that are weak in chemistry, mathematics and physics, and are not equipped to cope with the cross-disciplinary of modern bioscience; (Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010(Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010 (word.doc)

The industry (SEMTA report) Skill shortages For specific scientific areas, the greatest skills shortages are in: Clinical/pharmacology/translational medicine Bioscience Analytical and physical chemistry Process and chemical engineering In vivo sciences Bioinformatics Hard to fill vacancies The three most common reasons for Hard to Fill Vacancies in the UK science companies surveyed are: lack of applicants with required work experience (39 out of 59 companies), lack of breadth of skills (23), lack of applicants with required qualifications and skills (21). (Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010(Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010 (word.doc)

The industry (SEMTA report) The main scientific skills gaps were in:The main generic skills gaps were in: > Bioscience and molecular biology > Analytical and physical chemistry > Biochemistry > Biotechnology/biopharmaceuticals > Geomics/proteomics/metabolomics > Synthetic organic chemistry/medicinal > chemistry > Mathematics or statistics. > Business skills > Management skills > IT skills (general) > Project management > Team working > Regulation (Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010(Semta ) – AACS LMI (Version 2.5) March 2010 (word.doc)

O*NET – jobs in the US

Salaries – some examples EntryProgressionSenior Plant breeder/geneticist £20,000 to £27,000 £25,000 - £36,000 5 years £35,000 to £44,000 Horticultural consultant £17,000 to £20,000 £25,000 to £45,000 Agricultural consultant £15,000 to £22,000 £25,000 to £50,000 Science teacher£20,627£30,148 40k-100k+ deputy & head teacher source: prospects.ac.ukprospects.ac.uk

Type of jobs Plant pathologist Monitors the response of plants to different stimuli such as light, temperature and nutrients. Botanical archivist Maintains and updates records in a botanical collection such as at Kew Gardens. Sports surface technologist Develops and maintains turf to the highest competitive standards – there are opportunities for this in several sports. Tree risk assessor Gauges the likelihood of a tree, or part of it, falling and causing an accident, and therefore the assessor decides whether or not the tree ought to be removed. Crop trials analyst Checks the behaviour of a crop to see if, for example, it is consistent or can be marketed as a new variety. Forensic ecologist Analyses evidence of plant, insect and soil traces, which can help in solving crimes. “SIX OF THE BEST JOBS” International Society for Horticultural Science: O*NET – soil and plant scientistsoil and plant scientist

Jobs

What Next? Information pages for Life SciencesLife Sciences Network Professional Bodies Prepare documents Use others – groups? Career Guidance, counselling, LDC