Are you considering a career in science but not sure which area? Have you a passion for learning new technical skills and contributing to leading research projects as a stepping-stone to a higher level course or qualification? Perhaps volunteering within CEPSAR could be for you. Over the years people have spent a week or two or even a month or two as a volunteer within a research group or academic department within CEPSAR. Whilst we are not able to provide funding for volunteers, the experience gained is beyond any monetary value.
A recent and highly successful case study is Camilla Wilkinson, a graduate of the University of Greenwich, who had a passion for more study but wasn’t sure of the available opportunities. Camilla approached CEPSAR member Dr Sarah Sherlock, Head of the Ar/Ar Dating Laboratory, and outlined her motivation for undertaking voluntary work in the Earth Sciences area. In just a few months Camilla gained hands-on experience of rock crushing, mineral separation and laserprobe Ar/Ar dating of rocks and minerals as part of a research project in CEPSAR. Within months Camilla had landed her dream job at the Natural History Museum in London but the lure of hands-on laboratory work and research, underpinned by the valuable experience gained as a volunteer in CEPSAR, brought her back to CEPSAR to study for a PhD in Ar/Ar geochronology.
“The opportunity to come and work in the Argon laboratory has enabled me to gain experience in a research centred environment. This has helped my career because of the doors it has opened for me and the people I have been able to work with.”
Camilla Wilkison, PhD candidate, CEPSAR
(pictured above on the left, with Supervisor Dr Sarah Sherlock collecting rock samples to the west of Yellowstone National Park.)
“Voluntary work in CEPSAR is a valuable route to learning new skills that are outside of the scope of undergraduate degree courses. It also means that we get to meet enthusiastic scientists of the future and take a hand in shaping their career path. In the case of Camilla it was apparent soon on that she would make an excellent PhD student and the skills she learnt during her voluntary work meant that she hit the ground running and was already integrated into my team at the outset of her PhD studies”.
Dr Sarah Sherlock, CEPSAR
If you think that voluntary work within CEPSAR would be beneficial to your career then please get in contact with the Director of CEPSAR, Professor Simon Kelley, or any member of CEPSAR that researches in a science area that you are passionate about. Again, we are unable to provide financial support for any voluntary work, but the experience gained could make all the difference to your career plans.