Links for Big Picture: Careers From Biology
Resources for students
After your GCSEs or Standard Grades
- Beyond school at Future Morph explains different further education, training and employment options
- Informed Choices from the Russell Group of Universities offers advice about post-16 subject choices and university entry
- Open courses from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows example materials from university courses
- All kinds of qualifications explained at Directgov
- Applications to university are made through UCAS, and the website provides information about the process
- Not Going to Uni gives advice about alternative options
General careers
- Careers Box shows films of all sorts of careers
- Careers Service Northern Ireland gives careers ideas and advice
- Icould.com, for career-related videos
- My World of Work (Scotland) can help you get a job and develop your career
- PlanIT plus (Scotland) matches careers with school subject options and showcases job profiles
Science degrees and careers
- Download the Classroom Medics Medical Career Finder App onto your iPhone or Android device to help you find your perfect medical job
- My Future Finder on the FutureMorph website allows you to explore a variety of careers
- Ten science facts and fictions: The case for early education about STEM careers
- A guide to the UK academic system
- ‘Becoming a Biochemist’, from the Biochemical Society, includes links to current biochemistry degree courses
- ‘Becoming a Biologist’ from the Society of Biology highlights degrees and careers in biology
- Career counseling: ‘101+ things you can do with a degree in biology’
- ‘Mothers in Science’ profiles different career paths
- Prospects: what to do with different degrees
- ‘The Science of Life’ from the Physiological Society contains information about a physiology degree and future career options [PDF]
- What can a biology graduate do?, 'The Guardian'
- Catalyst information about different biological courses at university
- National Careers Service guide to careers in biology
Case studies
- Video: Planet Science's What’s it like to be a scientist? Six scientists share their thoughts on science, school and cheese.
- Video series: 14 scientific careers
- Video: Classroom Medics Careers Videos give a flavour of the types of medical jobs available
- Blog: This is what a scientist looks like
- Text: Nearly 100 Healthcare scientists are featured in the Extraordinary You booklet from the NHS
- Text: Case studies from ABPI (The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry). Explore the multitude of different roles within the industry; each person has their own career perspective and advice to share.
- Text: Society of Biology, A week in the life of… In this section, you can gain an insight into a week in the life of a professional who has been through life, gained qualifications and is now employed doing what they love.
Career-specific advice
Science (academic)
- All about life in academic research
- Biochemical Society careers pages
- Biology Mad's useful links page
- British Science Association
- Society of Biology's useful links page
- STEM careers, Life Lab
- Understanding animal research explains the role of animal research in medical and scientific research
- The Virtual Lab from MRC is an online tool for you to engage with contemporary medical research and get a feel for what it is like to work as a researcher
Healthcare
- Forum on health and emergency service jobs
- Patient Journeys, Centre of the Cell
- Step Into the NHS
- Health Professions Council
- Institute of Biomedical Science
- Radiography careers
- Healthcare science in the NHS: all about modernising medical careers
- Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association
- Skills for Health
Education and communication
- Science communication jobs, BIG UK
- ‘So you want to be a science writer?’, Association of British Science Writers
- National Union of Journalists for students
- International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers
- BECTU, the media and entertainment trade union
Political and business
- Pharmaceutical industry
- UK Bioindustry Association
- Working in industry (chemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical and others)
- Campaign for Science and Engineering
- Academy of Medical Sciences policy information
Environmental
- Environmental and green jobs in the UK
- Careers information from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling
- Marine biology
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Real Cool Futures, Eden Project
- Society of Environmental Engineers
- Lantra (land-based and environmental industries)
- College of Animal Welfare: veterinary nursing
Resources for teachers
- I’m a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here provides your students with the opportunity to chat to real scientists and find out what it's like to work in science
- STEM Ambassadors are scientists who are trained to go into schools and teachers can register to find volunteers near your school
- Virtual Lab from MRC is an online tool for students to engage with contemporary medical research and get a feel for what it is like to work as a researcher
- Understanding animal research explains the role of animal research in medical and scientific research. You can also request a copy of the new colour poster about the small but important part that animals play in the medicine development process by emailing Jon Meredith on jmeredith@uar.org.uk.
- Get speakers to your school to give a taste of different science careers through Junior Café Sci
Have we missed any important links? Email us and let us know.
This article is part of the online content for ‘Big Picture: Careers From Biology’.