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The summer of 2023 saw the completion of the twentieth cohort of undergraduate industrial placements within the Inorganic Geochemistry Facility at ���ճԹ�. These students undertake a twelve-month placement at ���ճԹ� as paid members of the team, typically during the third year of a four-year undergraduate chemistry degree. The students largely originate from the University of Surrey, where an extensive programme set up by Prof Neil Ward comprises industrial placement experience with key sectors in the UK and around the world, with the goal of improving the employability of graduates. Overall, we have employed thirty-six students at ���ճԹ� through this scheme since 2003, with several also coming from the universities of Nottingham, Waikato (New Zealand) and Adelaide (Australia).

Benefits to ���ճԹ�

Each year, we have undergraduates with a fresh perspective keen to put into practice two years of learning at university.  Whilst there is an initial investment in training each year as a host, the students’ enthusiasm and passion quickly leads to effectiveness in the workplace.  The rotation every twelve months results in constant questioning and challenging of staff as to why we undertake laboratory procedures in a certain way, and occasionally leads to some innovative ways of thinking. 

The students are considered part of the wider team and are therefore given their own responsibilities, with guidance. Typically, they are operating complex laboratory instruments (with guidance) within a few months; these can include gamma spectrometers, ion chromatographs, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) and sometimes multiple instruments – which is not uncommon in industry. In fact, I completed a similar industrial placement myself many years ago at a pharmaceutical company, an industry in which the employment of undergraduate industrial placements is common for the operation of research equipment under the supervision of graduate or postgraduate scientists. This approach is a valuable recruitment tool across industry.

The scheme has also been a helpful recruitment tool. In 2013, Elliott Hamilton was employed as a permanent member of staff; he now oversees the interview and selection of students each year. We have also recruited past industrial placement students onto PhD programmes, with three completed PhD projects at ���ճԹ� and two currently approaching completion.

Networking is a key benefit of the programme. Through communication between university scientists and ���ճԹ�, the students learn how to cooperate, sharing ideas, data and learning, and have the opportunity to work with young people with different cultural and educational upbringings to some of our staff.

Benefits to early career scientists

The industrial placement students are given a research project aligned to the ongoing needs of the laboratory and the wider ���ճԹ� strategy. In general, this will require a new laboratory capability for research or commercial purposes. This activity develops the students’ experience in scientific rigour, reasoning, planning and communication, which is reinforced through oral presentations . Communication learning culminates for the University of Surrey students at their ‘Industry Day’ when they return for their final year of study. They present their experience to the other companies involved in the industrial placement programme, typically pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry, life sciences, environmental science and materials research.

Student responsibilities within the laboratories range from the routine daily tasks that are essential to the functioning of the facility (and in maintaining our accredited status to ISO 17025:2017) to the operation of complex equipment. Crucially, they learn how to multi-task, respond to deadlines on varying scales and deal with pressure points through teamwork and communication. Importantly, throughout the year the students often clarify what they want to do as a career beyond graduation, with the industrial placement giving them valuable applied skills and knowledge, skills for their CV and the start of their own personal career network. Of the 36 alumni, 16 went onto further postgraduate study, with many others remaining in a science career through professions in teaching, sales or chemistry roles across a range of industrial sectors.

The students

Prof Neil Ward, University of Surrey

Michael Watts at ���ճԹ� provides an excellent laboratory for students undertaking work-based learning or professional training. This long-standing link with the University of Surrey is highly recognised for the professional level of training the students get, with specific on-the-job experience of quality control systems, project specific analysis of other staff at ���ճԹ� and the day-to-day experience of working with experts from a variety of professions at ���ճԹ�. All the students learn about research in a world where it is not just sample analysis that is important; the results are also important in relation to natural environmental and geochemical problems.

Summary

Overall, the industrial placements are an extremely valuable way of refreshing the workforce perspective and approach to wider learning and development of staff. The students have formed a valuable recruitment pool and a wider network as they develop their careers, resulting in a flexible form of workforce to respond to opportunities, which greatly enhances the employability of the students and the development of wider skills for UK scientific research.  The scheme also continues to be invaluable approach to developing the supervisory and line management skills of junior staff, particularly given the diversity of personalities and  levels of resilience and fragility. Overall, it has been extremely satisfying to see these young scientists evolve, develop their self-confidence and start to crystallise their hopes for the future during the course of the 12 months and beyond.

About the author

Dr Michael Watts

Head of ���ճԹ� Inorganic Geochemistry

���ճԹ� Keyworth

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