• Question: To be a researcher, do you need loads of qualifications?

    Asked by Mrs K'Ski to Christie, Dan, David, Dawn, Sian on 14 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Christie Waddington

      Christie Waddington answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      Not necessarily! It is typically quicker if you go through the University route directly, but there are other ways to gain practical experience.

      There are science apprenticeship schemes which you can apply to after GCSEs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laboratory-and-science-technicians-apprenticeships). From here, some companies offer the chance to do undergraduate degrees and PhDs whilst also working. My last company, Covance (based in Harrogate) offered these undergraduate and PhD schemes which are part-time and last 5 years rather than 3 years. Most large pharmaceutical companies will also offer them. You get to work whilst you are doing it, and the modules you study/research projects are usually focussed on what you are working on anyway. Hope that helps!

    • Photo: Dawn Lau

      Dawn Lau answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      It depends what kind of research you want to do, and how much responsibility you want to have. My answer will be more biology-focused so other fields might be different! If you want to work in a university as a researcher, we call that “academia” and you will need to have an undergraduate degree at least, and probably a postgraduate degree (ie a Master’s or a PhD). If you want to run your own research group with lots of people working under you in the future, most group leaders who work in academia have a PhD.

      However, if you want to work in a drug company, they might not require a PhD as long as you have the work and research experience to make up for it. For example, you can be a research assistant without a PhD degree, which allows you to do research but with less independence and responsibilities than a group leader.

    • Photo: Dan Lewis

      Dan Lewis answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      I have found in the pharmaceutical industry that they are hiring more apprentices than ever and sending them on day release to college or university depending on background. It is seemingly a good way to start your career and get paid to study and gain your qualifications at the same time.

    • Photo: Sian Thomas

      Sian Thomas answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      If you love research then you kind of develop the qualifications as you go. I really enjoyed my research project in my PhD, did some research in my summer role before my PhD and then of course research was fundamental to my PhD.
      I have been doing different types of research since then – today’s focus is user research and tech – but it is there every day and is a skill that is increasingly required in lots of roles – probably more than ever before.

    • Photo: David Robertson

      David Robertson answered on 17 Jun 2016:

      If you want to work in a University then the answer is that you will probably need at least an undergraduate degree and a PhD, but as the other point out, there are other routes into research.

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