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Research Councils UK (RCUK) has today (3 December 2012) published further research career case studies, designed to inspire the next generation to think about pursuing a career in research.
Each case study tells their own personal story of how they got involved in research, what it takes to be a researcher, and their rewarding experiences from their chosen career paths. The RCUK resource now contains 44 case studies in total, covering a wide range of disciplines including arts and humanities; maths; biology; social sciences; and physics.
The case studies are aimed at young people and highlight the opportunities research skills can give, not only in academia but also in the wider world of business, industry and commerce. The skills gained from a research career are highly sought after by increasing numbers of national and international companies working with UK researchers.
Ceri Brenner is a recent PhD research graduate who works at the Central Laser Facility at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (RAL), researching high power laser-plasma interactions. She said: “The fact that my research can be applied for the benefit of humanity and our future is a major motivator for me. I'm an experimentalist, and nearly all of my time is spent doing experiments within an international team for 4-6 weeks at a time, so there is a lot of overseas travel. My favourites so far have been in Japan, New York and Prague.”
Dr James Briscoe, of the MRC National Institute for Medical Research Developmental Biology, said: “I enjoy working with really smart people, discussing ideas and interpreting data, and doing things and seeing things that no one else has seen or done. Research for me, means the constant challenge of producing new ideas, and being a member of an international community.”
New case studies will continue to be added to the site to promote the wide variety of careers available in research as well as demonstrating the multitude of routes to those careers that young people can pursue. We would like to encourage anyone with an interesting research career story to get in touch with us to be considered as a case study. Please email communications@rcuk.ac.uk.
RCUK believes that inspiring the next generation to consider the value of a career in research is vital to ensure that the UK maintains its world-leading position, providing critical contributions to the economy and the pressing challenges facing society.
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Contact:
Katie Clark
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Katie Clark
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
The seven UK Research Councils are: