Industrial Work Placement Scheme

Can your company offer a one-year work placement to a life sciences student? Funding is now available to cover 50% of the student's salary for placements starting in summer 2011. 
 
The programme, which is supported by the Scottish Funding Council's Horizon Fund, aims to provide students with real life work experience and commercial lab skills that will improve their employment prospects.
 
To apply or register your interest please contact:
Dr Allison Carrington
Industrial Placement Co-ordinator - University of Aberdeen
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 551934
Email: a.carrington@abdn.ac.uk 
 
Information for Employers
The main objective of the industrial placement scheme is to provide 4th year undergraduates with an opportunity to apply skills and knowledge acquired during levels 1-3 of their degree to practical problems in ‘real-life’ situations and give the students a better idea about what the world of work has in store for them. Students are placed in an industrial environment for one year where they obtain a breadth of practical experience to complement their degree programme. During their year in industry it is hoped that the students will gain useful skills which will improve their employment prospects when they graduate.  
 
Aims

• To develop students’ basic laboratory skills, including
  experimental planning, note keeping and data analysis and interpretation and to increase their expertise in specialised laboratory techniques within the context of their project.
• To improve students’ skills in the presentation of their work, both
  verbally and in written reports.
• To provide an opportunity to increase students’ interpersonal and teamwork skills through collaboration with their supervisor and work colleagues.
• To provide insights into the skills required for effective and innovative project management and professionalism.
• To enable students to gain a maturity that comes from already having experienced the world of work. 

 
What is the timescale for the placement?
 
Students must work for one full calendar year (inclusive of holidays). In order to fit in with the academic year students generally work from July, August or September of one year until the following July, August or September. 
 
Why Choose SULSA Students?
 
The SULSA Universities have wide ranging research interests, offering undergraduate and postgraduate training across many basic and applied biomedical disciplines. We have particular research strengths in molecular & cell biology, cancer biology, drug discovery, systems biology, cardiovascular biology, pharmacology, infection & immunity, and stem cell biology. The life sciences research departments of the six SULSA universities were all rated of international excellence in the 2001 and 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
 
Each university strive's to enhance the student learning experience so that all students can reach their full potential. Our students graduate with a solid background of discipline-specific knowledge as well as generic skills and life skills that will enable them to pursue a lifelong engagement with education. 
 
Benefits for your company
 

• You will meet and work with some of Scotland's most enthusiastic and enterprising students.
• A specific project can be completed within a specified timescale.
• You have an opportunity to build strong links with Scotland's leading life sciences teaching and research departments.
• Increasingly placements are used as a tool by employers for pre-selecting the best students for graduate roles. 

 
How do you apply for a placement student?
 

• Register an interest by contacting Dr. Allison Carrington, Industrial Placement Co- ordinator (contact details below).
• Provide Allison with a clear, defined project outline in industrially
  relevant research or research and development (this can be finalised between the student and the employer when the student begins their placement).
• Confirm a supervisor has been identified within your company to
  support the student. 

 
Copyright, IPR and Confidentiality
 
The copyright and IPR remain with your company. Confidentiality agreements can be drawn up by the company and signed by the student.

How much will it cost?
 
The only cost to your company are any laboratory consumables used during the project and half of the salary provided to the student. The other half of the salary is funded by SULSA through a grant from the Scottish Funding Council. A salary is agreed between the company and the student (this must be at least minimum wage but is typically £12,000 to £15,000 p.a.) and the company arranges payment directly to the student. Your company also organises any necessary employer insurances and appropriate health and safety arrangements as per your existing employees.
 
What support is provided by SULSA?
 

• Funding for 50% of student salary
• Advertisement of your vacancy to all eligible 3rd year students within the SULSA universities.
• Review of students’ applications and C.V.s prior to these being passed to you for consideration.
• Liaison with your company to ensure
  prerequisites are met where required.
• Site visits can be undertaken when required. 

 
Contact
 
The Industrial Placement Co-ordinator is the University’s first point of contact for both placement students and the industrial placement company. You are invited to contact the Industrial Placement Co-ordinator at any time and for any reason at the address below.
 
Dr Allison Carrington
Industrial Placement Co-ordinator - University of Aberdeen
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 551934
Email: a.carrington@abdn.ac.uk
 
School of Medical Sciences
Institute of Medical Sciences
University of Aberdeen
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD