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The Babraham Institute works to deliver impact by translating our science and understanding of fundamental biology to promote lifelong health and wellbeing. Our blogs offer scientists, staff and guests the chance to share their individual views and experiences on the Institute's efforts to deliver research impacts and to build a welcoming and diverse community.

01/05/2024

Apprenticeships in animal care: insights from our Biological Support Unit team

Our Biological Support Unit is responsible for caring for mice used in the Institute’s research. Their team of technicians and specialists perform daily husbandry duties and provide essential services to the facility.

animal research | careers | training | Technician

27/03/2024

From postdoc to leader: chronicles of independence

Dr Ivan Gallotta, senior postdoc in the David lab, describes his experience of the Pathway to Independence programme and gives some tips for postdocs looking to make the transition to principal investigator.

careers | postdoc | training | leadership

By Ivan Gallotta

13/03/2024

Into industry and back again, how I navigated the next steps after my PhD

Adam Bendall, postdoctoral researcher, reflects on his career so far.

phd student | postdoc | careers | epigenetics | industry

By Adam Bendall

07/02/2024

My apprenticeship experience: from the IT helpdesk to infrastructure specialist

For National Apprenticeship week, we asked Matt to reflect on his apprenticeship experience.

careers | training | Technician

By Guest Blogger

25/10/2023

Cracking the Code: The Cambridge and Antwerp Bioinformatics Three-Day Hackathon

Jo and Simon reflect on the 2023 Hackathon.

By Jo Montgomery

02/08/2023

Being open to openness: my personal experience with public engagement

Sarah Drummond, an experienced animal technician in our animal facility, shares her perspectives on being open around the use of animals in research and the importance of animal technicians speaking about their work.

12/07/2023

From A to T, C, G: a day in the life of a sequencing specialist

Chris Fox, our sequencing specialist working within the Genomics facility, describes a typical day in the facility as they provide support, innovation and expertise in all part of library preparation and sequencing for the Institute's researchers and companies on the Babraham Research Campus.

facilities | Technician Commitment | Technician | genomics | careers

By Alumni Blogger

05/04/2023

My scientific conference experience

Danny Collins describes his experience presenting at the Dynamic Phospholipids in Health and Disease Conference in Florida.

phd student | conference | signalling | early career

05/10/2022

Top tips for new PhD students

As our new PhD students arrive at the Institute, Laura reflects on her experience so far

phd student | careers | advice | people

By Laura Weatherdon

16/06/2022

Why I work in animal research

One of our colleagues who works in our animal facility shares why they decided to work in the field.

18/05/2022

From Zimbabwe to Cambridge: my global scientific journey

One of our PhD students Tombi shares how her passion for science and helping others has taken her around the world and offered a range of exciting opportunities.

10/03/2022

A day in the life of a postdoctoral researcher

For National Careers Week, we have asked some colleagues to share more about their careers. In this post, one of our talented postdocs Katie shares more about what a typical day in the life looks like for her.

By Katie Mulholland

09/03/2022

A day in the life of a Flow Cytometry Specialist

For National Careers Week, we have asked some colleagues to share more about their careers. In this post, our Flow Cytometry Specialist Sam shares more about what a typical day in the life looks like for him.

By Sam Thompson

07/03/2022

How I got into my career in animal welfare

For National Careers Week, we have asked some colleagues to share more about their careers. In this post, a member of staff from our Biological Support Unit shares their path into a career in animal welfare.

By Alumni Blogger

12/01/2022

Why circular careers in science are great

Career paths are often depicted as a straight line. Academic ones sometimes as a pyramid. Jo shares more about her career patchwork as she find herself back at the beginning of her career - geographically at least!

By Jo Montgomery

13/10/2021

Seven pieces of advice for new PhD students

We asked our current PhD students to share some advice and tips on what they wish they had known at the beginning of their PhDs to share with new first year students.

phd student | advice | students | women in science

02/11/2020

From the Lab to Engagement

Say hello to Mike, our new adult and communities Public Engagement Officer. Here he talks about his career journey from working in a lab to sharing his love of science through public engagement.

public engagement | engagement | careers | science communication

By Michael Norman

06/10/2020

My journey to Babraham

Meet Fergus, our newest Public Engagement team member. In this introductory blog post, he gives us an insight into his career path so far, his passion for engagement, and some of the events we have to look forward to in the coming months.

26/05/2020

Academia or Industry? Black and white or shades of grey?

Many scientists are faced with a key decision at some point in their career; to either persist with an academic career, with its high attrition rate and treadmill of grant writing, or look to move into industry. Back when I was a PhD student (1987-1991) there was a certain snobbery about industrial bioscience - some told me it was ‘boring’, ‘turning-the-handle’, and ‘not very creative’. My own experience has been somewhat different.

careers | industry | knowledge exchange

By Simon Cook