Susie
What qualifications did you come out of school with?
I did my A levels in Germany.
What was your career pathway, Susie?
When I first moved to England, I was employed as a Healthcare Technical Officer and later as a Senior Healthcare Technical Officer at the National Blood Service in Colindale. This was my first proper job.
After that, I started working in the Haematology and Blood Transfusion department at St Mary’s Hospital as a Medical Laboratory Assistant where, two years later, I started my BSc in Applied Biomedical Science. In my third year of university, I progressed to a Trainee Biomedical Scientist position. Following the completion of my BSc degree and HCPC registration, I got a Biomedical Scientist Band 5 position and two years later I progressed to a Band 6 position, all within the same department at St Mary’s Hospital. I started my MSc in Haematology in 2013 which took two years to complete.
In 2016, I left St Mary’s Hospital and went to work as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in the Specialist Integrated Haematological and Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SIHMDS) at Great Ormond Street Hospital. In 2018, I became a Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist within the same department and this is still my current role.
What qualifications do you have and how many years has it taken you to study?
The Bachelor’s degree (in Applied Biomedical Science) was a part-time course and took me 4 years to complete. The Master’s degree (in Haematology) was also a part-time course and took 2 years to complete.
Why did you choose to be a biomedical scientist?
It was a bit of an accident. I started to study Physics in Germany but I wasn’t very good at it and I dropped out of university. When I came to England, I knew I wanted to do something science-related, and that’s when I came across the job at the National Blood Service in Colindale which didn’t require any special qualifications or prior experience. From then on my career just evolved in a very positive way.
What professional bodies are you affiliated with?
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Institute of Biomedical Science
What do you like best about your job?
We are dealing with children who have very rare diseases. It is incredibly interesting to learn about these diseases including their symptoms and genetics. We perform various tests on the patient’s blood and bone marrow. The results are then used by the doctors to assess how sick the patients are and what treatment to give. This means that even though we never get to see the patients personally, we have a very significant impact on their treatment.
What do you like least?
It is very sad when one of our patients, some of whom we have been monitoring for many years, passes away.
Do you make a good living out of being a Biomedical Scientist?
You do not work for the NHS if you want to make big bucks. But yes, in my current role, I’m very happy and comfortable.
What fun things/interests do you do in your spare time?
I have a severe Netflix addiction, so I spend most of my time watching K-dramas. I do like to paint but don’t find much time for it. I also do kickboxing to keep me fit.
Could you have become a biomedical scientist without going to University?
No. A bachelor’s degree is one of the requirements to obtain professional HCPC registration. Without this registration, I would not be allowed to call myself a Biomedical Scientist as it is a protected title and I would not be allowed to authorise any laboratory results or reports.
David
What qualifications did you come out of school with?
GCSE O and A levels (Biology and Physics)
What was your career pathway?
After finishing University in 1984 (2:1 Honours Zoology) I spent several years doing “other jobs” and eventually took an MLA post at GOSH in 1995.
I moved to a trainee MLSO post and then became State Registration 1998.
In 2000 I moved to a research post at UCL/ICH for 14 years (surveillance of HIV in pregnant women using dried blood spots – tested over 2.5 million spots!) then returned to GOSH virology in 2014
What qualifications do you have and how many years has it taken you to study?
I had to do a year “top-up” qualification at the University of Westminster to bridge my degree knowledge to the level required for State Registration
Why did you choose to be a biomedical scientist?
Biology was my favourite subject at school and I have always been very practical and hands-on in all my interests. I love the concept of investigation and finding a result whether that be testing samples or validating a new test.
What professional bodies are you affiliated with?
The IBMS and registered with the HCPC
What do you like best about your job?
The teamwork and the ability to make a difference to the patient’s treatment/outcome through careful/precise/thoughtful work
What do you like least?
It can be stressful at times, working to deadlines and having to deal with demanding hospital staff, an incorrect or missed result can have huge consequences for the patient and as a BMS I bear the burden of that consequence.
Do you make a good living out of being a Biomedical Scientist?
Personally – yes, but that’s just my situation, I know many other BMS with families and mortgages etc who struggle.
What fun things/interests do you do in your spare time?
I have been a keen photographer for many years and find this a great escape from the stresses of the job. I combine this activity with my other passions of classic cars and motorsport.
Could you have become a biomedical scientist without going to University
Having a biological degree was a prerequisite for me to become state-registered.
Daniel
What qualifications did you come out of school with?
I had 3 A-levels (physics, chemistry and maths) and one AS level (computer studies)
Did you intend to become a biomedical scientist or how did you get into your career?
I had no idea what I wanted to do after university, but I had developed an interest in medical physics from one of my university modules, I just wasn’t sure how to get into it. As you can see from the next question it was a long and windy route to get to where I am now.
What was your career pathway?
After university, I became a qualified secondary school science teacher, but I decided to retrain by doing a Medical Physics MSc course at university. After that, it took a bit of time but I got an entry-level position in the Radiation Protection Department at RMH, before progressing to the Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) in Radiotherapy Physics. I’m a registered Healthcare Science Practitioner now and I’m working towards registration as a Clinical Scientist, which is the next step up. I am also doing some work in the Diagnostic Radiology department. My route is not exactly typical, though quite a few people have done physics or science-related courses before shifting their focus to medical physics.
What qualifications do you have and how many years has it taken you to study?
I spent 3 years on my BSc in Maths and Physics (2005-8), 1 year on my Medical Physics MSc (2011-12), and 2 years on a graduate diploma programme as part of the fast-track PTP scheme (2016-18). As you can see they’re well spread out! I also spent a year on a university course in teacher training in 2008-9.
Why did you choose to be a biomedical scientist?
I developed an interest in medical physics at university, however, didn’t know how to get into it. After deciding to move on from teaching I chased my dream with further study.
What professional bodies are you affiliated with?
I am a member of the Institute of Physics (IoP) and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). I am also a registered Healthcare Science Practitioner with the Academy for Health Care Science (AHCS) and on the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT).
What do you like best about your job?
I particularly enjoy doing the quality control checks on the treatment and imaging machines, making sure they’re working as accurately as possible. I also like going into operating theatres to support brachytherapy work. Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. It places radioactive sources inside the patient to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. This allows your doctor to use a higher total dose of radiation to treat a smaller area in less time
What do you like least?
I don’t like being stuck at my desk for too long but it happens, some of the paperwork isn’t that interesting but it has to be done!
Do you make a good living out of being a Biomedical Scientist?
I think I do, qualifying from the main training schemes will bring you out at either band 6 or 7 depending on which route you took, and it’s a reasonable wage with room to progress in the future. Working in Central London also helps as there is extra money in working in the London area.
What fun things/interests do you do in your spare time?
I spend a lot of time volunteering with my local football club, as well as following them home and away. I’m also a Beaver Scout Leader.
Could you have become a biomedical scientist without going to University?
I’m not sure, as both of the main routes require some kind of university course (they both contain hospital placements, and the Scientist Training Programme does pay a wage to train) but there are direct entry routes, though they are rare and would probably require some kind of background in the subject. There are also equivalent training schemes for other areas of medical science.
For further information on your professional career please put links to resources etc: I’ve included links to the training scheme information in the presentation, as well as a few video resources relating to the subject matter.
Elvira
What qualifications did you come out of school with?
I am originally from Kyrgyzstan, a country which used to be a part of the USSR. I studied for 10 years and needed to pass exams for many core subjects (it was different from the UK where you choose only 3 subjects for your A-levels).
What was your career pathway?
After working for one year in the same laboratory where I did my PhD, I went to work as a Wellcome Trust postdoctoral researcher in Cardiff, Wales for two years. After working as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute for Medical Research and then at King’s College London, I joined University College London (UCL) and currently, I am a Senior Teaching Fellow teaching Biology to undergraduate and postgraduate students. I also manage the MSc Genetics of Human Disease.
What qualifications do you have and how many years has it taken you to study?
I have a BSc with an integrated MS (Master of Science) in Medical Biochemistry degree from Moscow School of Medicine in Moscow, Russia. This was a 6-year course. I have also a PhD in Medical Biochemistry. It was a 4-year programme. A PhD programme is a postgraduate doctoral degree, awarded to students who complete an original thesis by conducting original research in a specific field or subject. PhD qualifications are available in all subjects and are normally the highest level of academic degree.
Why did you choose to be a biomedical scientist?
When I finished school, I knew Biology and Chemistry but had never heard about Biochemistry. It sounded so interesting. I found out that by studying Medical Biochemistry I will be then able to become a scientist investigating how things work in living organisms. Biology is fascinating. I was also curious to understand the causes of human diseases and how they develop.
What professional bodies are you affiliated with?
For many years I was affiliated with the British Society for Developmental Biology. Currently, I am a member of the UK Pharmacogenetics & Stratified Medicine Network.
What do you like best about your job?
As a Biomedical Scientist, you can choose what project to work on and you are surrounded by people with the same interests and also feel connected to the global scientific community. As a university teacher, I teach and mentor many young people. Seeing them growing in front of my eyes and knowing that you were part of the process to get them to where they are today is very rewarding. Many of our students become great professionals after finishing their degrees.
What do you like least?
My job can be demanding.
Do you make a good living out of being a Biomedical Scientist?
You will be not rich, but you will be surrounded by intelligent people who are passionate about science.
What fun things/interests do you do in your spare time?
I like spending time with my kids, reading and gardening.
Could you have become a biomedical scientist without going to University?
No, you need to go to University. University offers you not only training in a certain subject but also teaches you to become a person with an inquisitive mind which is very important for becoming a scientist. This is an exciting time to be a biologist because all fields of biology and especially human genetics are transforming medicine.