GW4 BioMed DTP Orientation Day
We hold a two-day orientation day each year in October. If you are starting your PhD, you will be expected to attend both days.
On the second day, there will be a session to:
- Give you an overview of the Broadening Horizons placement aims
- Provide support and advice on how to find a placement and identify support available to you during your placement.
You may start thinking about the type of placement you would like to undertake and what skills or benefits you would like to gain throughout your first year, so that you are ready to start contacting potential host organisations early in your second year.
Finding your placement
Where to begin
- Organisation: Consider the type of working environment and sector you would prefer; small organisation or global corporation? Public or Private sector?
- Role: What type of role would suit your skillset? Do you work best independently, as part of a team, or as a leader?
- Location: Where would you like to live? City or country, home or abroad? Would you prefer a hybrid or remote placement?
- Timing: When would you like to carry out your placement? (You must agree with your supervisor a suitable timeframe to carry out your placement). Would you like to do a 3-month block, or divide it into smaller blocks?
Advertised vacancies
Advertised vacancies can be found in a variety of places, including traditional job websites, institutional career websites and at local careers services. The DTP Hub will inform you of any placement opportunities they are aware of.
Former Broadening Horizons hosts
Contact GW4 BioMed students about their placement hosts as some may be willing to offer another placement. Check our Broadening Horizons Database or contact the DTP on GW4BioMed@cardiff.ac.uk.
Applying directly to companies
You can also apply directly to companies that you are interested in. You could:
- Send an email directly to a key member of staff at an organisation you are interested in working for. It has more chance of success if you have a name to address your enquiry to. You could consider using our GW4 BioMed Placement Letter either as a template that you use as a base or to send as additional information.
- Contact your university careers service as they may have contacts interested in offering a Broadening Horizons placement.
- Use contacts you may have secured through networking, your supervisor, collaborators, events or online forum eg LinkedIn
Careers Services
Searching for a suitable Broadening Horizons placement is a student led process, but you can use the careers services at your university (please see links below). Trained staff are available to provide valuable advice, both for securing your placement and your future career
- University of Bath Careers Service
- University of Bristol Careers Service
- University of Cardiff Careers Service
- University of Exeter Careers Service
Types of placement
A Broadening Horizons placement can be within an academic research field, as long as you are not carrying out work you would have routinely done at your home university. Here are some areas you may like to consider:
| Research related · Collaborator Labs · Learning new techniques · Work as a Researcher in Residence within a Catapult site | Industry: BioTech and Pharma • Data projects • Project Management • Audits/Process reviews |
| Local Government, NHS, Associations • Developing policy • Clinical Trials and Audits • Working in public / professional / charitable associations & funders | Publishing, Media, Marketing & Communication • Press Offices & Scientific publishing companies • Science communication roles • Marketing |
When should I start looking?
Year 1: You could collect ideas and contacts so that you have a bank of information for when you start planning your placement.
Year 2: Early in your second year, you should start to identify potential areas/sectors that you may be interested in and look out for internship advertisements. At Easter of Year 2, you should start to discuss your placement with your supervisor and contact potential hosts. You should aim to be getting your documentation in the later part of year 2.