Skills

Students & Industry

Take part in modules located at HEIs across Scotland, develop specialist knowledge in an emerging technology and increase your earning potential. All whilst adding academic, work-related and transferrable skills to your CV.

The course includes a range of compulsory core classes and electives which ensure graduates have the opportunity to specialise for their preferred career path. The Masters degree culminates in a minimum 10 week industrial placement which enables you to carry out an industrially-relevant project.

Core classes include:

• Bioprocessing (University of Strathclyde)

• Applied Biocatalysis (University of Strathclyde)

• Synthetic Biology (University of Glasgow)

• Downstream Processing (Heriot-Watt University)

• Big Data Fundamentals (University of Strathclyde)

• Introduction to Bioinformatics (University of Strathclyde)

Elective classes include:

• Blue Biotechnology (SAMS, University of the Highlands & Islands)

• Renewable Energy Technologies (Abertay University)

• Circular Economy and Transformations Towards Sustainability (University of Strathclyde)

• Project Management (University of Strathclyde)

• Food Microbiology and Biotechnology (Glasgow Caledonian University)

• Food Commodities and Sustainability (Glasgow Caledonian University)

• Understanding the Regulatory Environment of Bioprocessing Industries (Glasgow Caledonian University)

Our students have gone on to enjoy successful careers with the following companies:

• GSK

• Xanthella

• Marine Biopolymers

• AMT

• Ingenza

• Unilever

• CRODA

• CelluComp

• Cyanosol

• NCIMB

Site Visits
To enhance your learning, students can take part in industry site visits, experiencing the industrial biotechnology sector first-hand in a variety of organisations from SME’s to Multinationals.

Career Support
Students undertaking IBioIC's MSc in Industrial Biotechnology will have access to a wealth of career support.

Apply or Find Out More

Members are welcome to enquire at any time about joining the industrial placements programme.

What is an MSc Industrial Placement?
We are looking for organizations to become involved in training and educating the biotechnologists of the future.  Can your company provide an interesting work placement/project and supervision to an enthusiastic MSc student for a minimum of 10 weeks next year?   If so, we’d love to hear from you!

What are the benefits to my company in offering an Industrial Placement?
There are numerous advantages, such as:-

• It’s a great opportunity to engage with an enthusiastic MSc student with a fresh perspective, and have them working within your company for a defined period of time.

• It’s a great opportunity for your company to undertake a defined project or investigative piece of work (or progress an existing one) using the MSc students’ knowledge, skills and experience, which has been enhanced by our MSc programme and its collaborative industry-focused modules.

• It’s a great opportunity for your company to become an integral part of training and educating the next generation of future biotechnologists, strengthening links between academia and industry.

Here’s what some of our Industrial Partners/Members have to say about offering a placement.

Here’s what some of our MSc students have to say about undertaking a placement.

What is required of our company?

Industrial placements are scheduled to take place between late May and late July. The placement should last for 10 weeks. Placements may be offered for a longer period if the project requires it, but we would need to know the confirmed placement duration in advance. Each placement will require a named Industrial Supervisor, someone based within that company, who will mentor and look after the MSc student for the duration of their placement.  Please refer to the ‘outline of responsibilities’ section at the end for more specific information.

Will our company be expected to pay for the MSc student?

• For a standard 10 week industrial placement, payment to the MSc student is on a voluntary basis.

• For any industrial placement exceeding 10 weeks, we would normally expect some sort of payment to be offered to the MSc student, this is open to negotiation.

• The company is expected to cover all reasonable expenses relating to any work being undertaken on the premises during the placement (a small consumables budget may be available from IBioIC, by negotiation).

How will the MSc student be selected/allocated?
Our students will get to select their ‘top 5’ placements on offer, this will be prioritised and competitive based upon grades and performance and an appropriate knowledge and skills matching exercise. CV’s will be shared with companies and competitive interviews organised.

What are the terms and conditions of taking a MSc student?
All work undertaken by the MSc student during the placement will be on behalf of the company with the agreement that sufficient data can be collected and presented for inclusion in their Masters thesis.

A short agreement between the company and the student will be put into place prior to any work commencing.  More information will follow shortly.

I’m interested in offering an Industrial Placement, how do I sign up?
Please return a completed ‘Proposal Form’ by email to skills@ibioic.com.

Outline of responsibilities of an Industrial Supervisor.

• Provide a brief outline to the project identifying key techniques to be used.

• Meet with the student to discuss the subject of the project and to provide key references.

• Help the student to identify specific aims objectives of the project and formulate a hypothesis to be tested.

• Provide or arrange training in relevant techniques (training may be given by PhD students, technicians or research staff as appropriate).

• Ensure that students are aware of and sign the relevant safety information including COSHH and Risk Assessment Forms, and Standard Operating Procedures for equipment and facilities.

• Monitor satisfactory attendance and performance of their students.

• Meet with the student on a formal basis to discuss progress at least every two weeks throughout the ten week experimental part of the project (May to July).

• Complete an assessment form for the laboratory performance of the student  (20% of the mark for the thesis).  Guidance/training can be provided if necessary.

INSPIRE A TEACHER AND CASCADE THE LEARNING TO PUPILS

Wanted - IBioIC Members to host a 3-day work experience placement for a teacher!

Industrial Biotechnology (IB) is yet to be embedded in the curriculum for excellence, a significant barrier to inspiring the next generation of IB employees. 

STEM Learning is seeking employers willing to provide 3 days of work experience or job shadowing for a teacher to gain an understanding of the future employment opportunities and support young people to make career decisions based on opportunities of the future, not the past.

"Before the programme, I didn't feel I had sufficient knowledge of STEM careers to talk with confidence. Now I am equipped with up-to-date knowledge, real examples and experiences as well as strong industry links that can benefit the whole school." Insight into industry placement - Alice Kupara, subject leader of ICT and computer science

How will the Placements work?

Employer hosts are being sought to host a STEM or guidance teacher to embed knowledge of the four grand challenge themes and future career opportunities offered by Grand Challenge employers.

Host employers will provide a placement of a minimum of 3 days (this could be 3 day block or 3 x 1 days eg 3 consecutive Fridays).  This will provide an opportunity for teachers to see research and development in practice and learn what future technologies will offer in terms of careers and job roles, from the very people who are developing those future technologies right now.

If you’d like to take part or find out more information please contact skills@ibioic.com

Why should I get involved?

Impact on career leaders and teachers:

• professionally life-changing, increased enthusiasm, motivation and confidence

• better informed to offer advice and guidance on potential career choices

• pre and post-placement online and face-to-face CPD to help turn your experience into effective action

Impact on young people and parents:

• increased awareness of the importance and relevance of Grand Challenge themes to society, and the role these will play in relation to people’s everyday lives and the UK economy

• increased knowledge of future career pathways available to young people who study STEM subjects and gain the STEM skills needed to adapt to working with new technologies and the opportunities they present, improving life choices

• increased enjoyment and engagement in Grand Challenge themed curricular and extra-curricular activities

• greater understanding of apprenticeships and their value

Impact on schools or colleges:

• equips schools and colleges to respond to the Government Careers Strategy and transform careers guidance

• motivational STEM teaching enriched with real-world context and examples

• meets Gatsby benchmarks 4, 5 and 6

• builds a community of practice, with a network of school/industry experts who can support other colleagues in schools and colleges

What are the Grand Challenges?

The Government's Industrial Strategy sets out four key Grand Challenge themes, aimed at putting the UK at the forefront of future industry. Each challenge focuses on a specific real-world problem, and each of these problems offers a real opportunity to enthuse and inspire young people in their learning.

1. Artificial intelligence: Using data, AI and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases by 2030.

2. Ageing society: Ensure that people can enjoy at least 5 extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035.

3. Clean growth: At least half the energy use of new buildings by 2030.

4. Future mobility: Put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles, with all new cars and vans effectively zero emission by 2040.

How they fit with IB

IB is a really useful tool which uses biology (and materials which come from plants) to make all kinds of useful things that we use in our everyday lives.  Up until recently most of these things have been manufactured by the chemical industry, but IB offers alternative sustainable processes to produce all of the products we need without any of the detrimental effects to our world.

IB has application in all of the Grand Challenges – production of medicines and sustainable materials to manufacture them, clean energy, encouraging the circular economy and reducing gas emissions from vehicles.

If you’d like to take part or find out more information please contact skills@ibioic.com

INSPIRE A TEACHER AND CASCADE THE LEARNING TO PUPILS

Wanted - IBioIC Members to host a 3-day work experience placement for a teacher!

Industrial Biotechnology (IB) is yet to be embedded in the curriculum for excellence, a significant barrier to inspiring the next generation of IB employees. 

STEM Learning is seeking employers willing to provide 3 days of work experience or job shadowing for a teacher to gain an understanding of the future employment opportunities and support young people to make career decisions based on opportunities of the future, not the past.

"Before the programme, I didn't feel I had sufficient knowledge of STEM careers to talk with confidence. Now I am equipped with up-to-date knowledge, real examples and experiences as well as strong industry links that can benefit the whole school." Insight into industry placement - Alice Kupara, subject leader of ICT and computer science

How will the Placements work?

Employer hosts are being sought to host a STEM or guidance teacher to embed knowledge of the four grand challenge themes and future career opportunities offered by Grand Challenge employers.

Host employers will provide a placement of a minimum of 3 days (this could be 3 day block or 3 x 1 days eg 3 consecutive Fridays).  This will provide an opportunity for teachers to see research and development in practice and learn what future technologies will offer in terms of careers and job roles, from the very people who are developing those future technologies right now.

If you’d like to take part or find out more information please contact skills@ibioic.com

Why should I get involved?

Impact on career leaders and teachers:

• professionally life-changing, increased enthusiasm, motivation and confidence

• better informed to offer advice and guidance on potential career choices

• pre and post-placement online and face-to-face CPD to help turn your experience into effective action

Impact on young people and parents:

• increased awareness of the importance and relevance of Grand Challenge themes to society, and the role these will play in relation to people’s everyday lives and the UK economy

• increased knowledge of future career pathways available to young people who study STEM subjects and gain the STEM skills needed to adapt to working with new technologies and the opportunities they present, improving life choices

• increased enjoyment and engagement in Grand Challenge themed curricular and extra-curricular activities

• greater understanding of apprenticeships and their value

Impact on schools or colleges:

• equips schools and colleges to respond to the Government Careers Strategy and transform careers guidance

• motivational STEM teaching enriched with real-world context and examples

• meets Gatsby benchmarks 4, 5 and 6

• builds a community of practice, with a network of school/industry experts who can support other colleagues in schools and college. 

What are the Grand Challenges?

The Government's Industrial Strategy sets out four key Grand Challenge themes, aimed at putting the UK at the forefront of future industry. Each challenge focuses on a specific real-world problem, and each of these problems offers a real opportunity to enthuse and inspire young people in their learning.

1. Artificial intelligence: Using data, AI and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases by 2030.

2. Ageing society: Ensure that people can enjoy at least 5 extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035.

3. Clean growth: At least half the energy use of new buildings by 2030.

4. Future mobility: Put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles, with all new cars and vans effectively zero emission by 2040.

How they fit with IB

IB is a really useful tool which uses biology (and materials which come from plants) to make all kinds of useful things that we use in our everyday lives.  Up until recently most of these things have been manufactured by the chemical industry, but IB offers alternative sustainable processes to produce all of the products we need without any of the detrimental effects to our world.

IB has application in all of the Grand Challenges – production of medicines and sustainable materials to manufacture them, clean energy, encouraging the circular economy and reducing gas emissions from vehicles.

If you’d like to take part or find out more information please contact skills@ibioic.com