Are you nearing the end of your studies and don’t know what to do after graduation? You may be panicking, but you don’t have to be. When I found myself in the same position, I signed up for the Concept to Consumer: Life Science Industry Masterclasses. Even as a busy final year student, these classes were easy to accommodate into my schedule and I attended two out of the three masterclasses run by SULSA (Scottish University Life Sciences Alliance). Meeting Life Sciences Companies As I was waiting for admittance to the first masterclass on Zoom, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, when I joined the call, we were warmly greeted by the chair of the meeting, who explained the reason for running these masterclasses. At once it was clear that the organisers and presenters were enthusiastic about engaging with students, and truly wanted to help us. Each masterclass followed the same structure: after a brief introduction, the first company would introduce themselves (including some relevant information for the upcoming task), prior to splitting up the audience into breakout rooms to complete a set challenge. After this, we would all reconvene in the main room to discuss our answers. As the event name suggests, all companies were in the life sciences sector, from medical writing to technology- there was truly something for everyone. The company presentations offered valuable insights into current graduate opportunities in the life science industry. Although this information can be found on company websites, it was more meaningful having someone explain the role demands and application process. Plus, there was time for Q&A sessions with each company, which was a great opportunity to ask questions that are seldom answered by job descriptions! Challenges and team work Challenges set by companies included: organising hypothetical clinical trials at preclinical and clinical stages; deciding how to communicate scientific information to varying audiences; and analysing market data to decide what medical issues to prioritise. These were engaging and gave us the chance to work with like-minded students. The tasks also helped us to think about what work we enjoyed most, and how our skills fit into different roles in industry. I would say these masterclasses gave me the confidence and motivation to plan for my career, and introduced me to the people behind company brands and names. As a result, I feel energised and ready to take the next step in my career. In addition, I have connected with presenters from the masterclasses, and feel prepared to enter the graduate job market. If you want to take control of your career, don’t waste any time, sign up for events like this as soon as you can! By Serena Ozkan, BSc Biomedical Sciences (Hons) Publication date 21 Mar, 2022
