Blog

22/11/2023

Why scientists in academia need to think like entrepreneurs

Mo Elzek explains the benefits of an entrepreneurial skillset as a scientist

27/09/2023

A day in the life of a roving researcher

The Institute’s Roving Researcher scheme, running since 2020, provides support for scientists taking long term leave. The postdoctoral position helps maintain momentum on projects by working closely with researchers on leave. Jayalini Assalaarachchi writes about her experience taking on the role. 

20/09/2023

My path to public engagement

Sasha Pratt-Taweh, Public Engagement Officer, describes her journey to her role at the Babraham Institute.

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.

10/05/2023

Public Engagement: A PIPS perspective

Miriam describes her placement in the Public Engagement team.

22/03/2023

A day with a difference: Schools’ Day 2023

Our Schools Public Engagement Officer shares his reflections on his first Schools’ Day event (and the 28th in the Institute’s history)

15/03/2023

Reflections on RITS 2023: building confidence to develop your career as a technician

After an enriching day at the 2023 Research Institutes Technician Symposium, Experienced Animal Technician, Sarah Drummond, describes how the theme of career confidence ran through the day’s programme, prompting not just reflection on Sarah’s professional development, but personally too.

14/12/2022

"Fulfilling and rewarding": our Sixth Form Conference

Read about what went on at our 2022 sixth form conference.

26/10/2022

A lab that sparks joy: my experience setting up a lab from scratch

Mark Cheong describes his first few months at the Institute spent setting up the Trefely lab.

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

14/09/2022

One log decade: My odyssey at the Institute

This month marks the ten year anniverary of our Flow Cytometry Facility Head, Rachael Walker, starting work at the Institute. Here she reflects on her journey over that time, both professionally and personally.

24/08/2022

Mentorship – working across the Babraham Research Campus to nurture scientific careers

How the Babraham Research Campus Mentorship Scheme is sharing perspectives between academic and commercial researchers to support career explorations, knowledge exchange and network building.  

14/07/2022

Having a PIPS at something new: From the lab to Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation

Jaspreet Bansal, a PhD student from Aston University undertook a Professional Internship for PhD students (PIPS) project with the Institute's Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation team and describes her experiences of being part of the Institute professionally and personally.

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.

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.

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.

23/02/2022

My Babraham placement: the fuel for an exciting scientific career

Feri talks about her research placement in the Schoenfelder lab and how her experience fuelled a passion for science and significantly helped my career progression.

08/12/2021

‘Educating RITA’ – the Research Institute Technician Symposium 2021

The second Research Institute Technician Symposium was held on 5th November and our colleague Mike shares more about what happened.

01/06/2021

The 360° of Public Engagement

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.

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.