THE SCIENTIFIC APPRENTICE

All PDRAs and students attending the ISMB retreat will participate in the Scientific Apprentice event. The aim is to gain experience in presenting yourself well to potential employers in a short space of time. This includes preparing a short CV and writing a concise personal statement (application process) and communicating rapidly and effectively verbally (interview process).

All PDRAs and PhD students attending the retreat are required to apply for one of the two fictitious jobs advertised below.

Applications

To apply candidates must submit a 1-page application/CV that includes the following sections (in this order):

- Position applied for
- Title, Name and Surname
- Email
- Education
- Employment history
- Personal Statement (250 words maximum. This should include your motivation for the job and detail your relevant experience with reference to the appropriate job description)

Minimum font size: 10, Times New Roman

Applications should be submitted to ismb-admin@ismb.lon.ac.uk by Friday 3rd June, 5pm.

Interviews

Applications will be circulated to each panel member prior to the retreat. However, there will be no shortlisting at this stage. Applicants will all go through the first round of interviews, as detailed below.

Round 1 (16.30-17.30, Tuesday 21st June)

A first round of rapid timed interviews will take place for the two jobs from 16.30 on Tuesday 21st June 2011, at Robinson College. Each candidate will have a 4-5-minute interview with one panel member. Interview time slots will be confirmed on arrival on Tuesday.

Round 2 (17.30-18.30, Tuesday 21st June)

Following round 1, the two panels will convene and shortlist eight candidates (four for each job). Each panel will then interview their shortlisted candidates as a group in the auditorium, in front of the audience (the rest of the attendees). The candidates will each be allowed three minutes to present themselves. This will be followed by questions from the panel to all the candidates. The audience will use responders to vote to decide who gets hired.

Reward

The successful applicant for each job will win a cash prize of £150.

FICTITIOUS JOB ADVERT 1 - RESEARCH SCIENTIST - The company ISEMBA is a well-funded London-based biotechnology company that pushes back the frontiers of healthcare in viral and bacterial diseases. As a spin-out from University College London and Birkbeck, ISEMBA uses an interdisciplinary and proprietary approach to drug discovery. Our research strategy is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity, and seeing each other’s differences as an advantage. The Position ISEMBA is seeking a highly motivated research scientist to join the Virology Discovery Group. The qualified candidate will join a diversified team of scientists in a fast pace and science-driven environment with the goal to discover and develop novel medicines for the treatment of viral diseases. The candidate scientist will contribute to forming the strategy towards new target identification using the tools of structural, computational, molecular, and chemical biology. The candidate will also be responsible for executing the scientific plans by generating experimental results. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential and ability to effectively work in a team environment is required. Ability to initiate and coordinate internal and external scientific collaborations is expected. Candidate Requirements You are someone who wants to influence your own development. You are looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests, and where a job title is not considered the final definition of who you are, but the starting point. You are studying for, or already have, a PhD degree in biochemistry or molecular, computational, or chemical biology, and a track record of scientific achievements, demonstrated by high-caliber publications. Ability of creative thinking and problem solving skills is essential. Prior experience in working within an interdisciplinary setting is desirable. The selection panel Dr Peter Goodfellow, FRS, former Senior Vice-President of Discovery SmithKline Beecham and a founder of Hexagen (Chair) Helen Lawrence, Business Relations, Birkbeck Dr Renos Savva, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck Prof Bonnie Wallace, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck

 

FICTITIOUS JOB ADVERT 2 - LECTURER IN BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCE - The department The Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB) at UCL and Birkbeck is seeking applications for a lectureship in Biomolecular Science, a position that will be held jointly between the two institutions. The position We wish to recruit an outstanding individual, capable of conducting world-class, interdisciplinary research in an area of science from candidates whose proposed research programme is biomedically relevant. Successful applicants will be expected to develop and manage a research group, have ideas for designing new teaching curricula for the 21st century, and have some experience of administration. Candidate Requirements Candidates should have a proven track-record of high quality research, have demonstrated an ability to supervise academic work of more junior staff, and be able to manage their time and work to strict deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Senior candidates should also have demonstrated an ability and will to work collaboratively, have experience in designing, organising and delivering teaching modules, and have written and submitted research funding applications. Applications should contain an account of the candidate's current research activities together with a plan of future research intentions. The selection panel Prof Gabriel Waksman, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck / Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL (Chair) Prof David Jones, Department of Computer Science / Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL Dr Helen Hailes, Department of Chemistry, UCL Prof Christine Slingsby, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck

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