Training Workshop 3: Introduction to R&D in Industry and Preparation for Job Search + Annual Meeting 3

PlaMatSu Workshop 3 and Annual Meeting 3

 

The third PlaMatSu Workshop and Annual Meeting was held at the University of Cambridge from 10-13 September 2019. All Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) and their supervisors, together with representatives of the associate partner organisations, external experts, the project manager and the project assistant, met to discuss the PlaMatSu project.

The focus of this workshop was an introduction to R&D in industry and preparation for job search. There were individual sessions on a variety of topics related to working in industry, as well as the challenges ESRs will face when looking for jobs. Sessions included:

  • Career service sessions and how to write CVs and cover letters

  • Talks by former members in both academia and industry

  • Mock interviews by academics and industry representatives

The workshop was immediately followed by the third annual meeting of the PlaMatSu Network, which took place on the final day of the week (Friday 13 September). The annual meeting comprised a keynote lecture and SIAB presentation, along with presentations from all 9 PlaMatSu ESRs, who spoke about their ongoing projects.

A detailed agenda is presented below.

 

Practicalities

 

All ESR participants were expected to be present on Tuesday 10 September 2019 at 09:00hrs until Friday 13 September 2019 at 15:15hrs.

All Supervisors, Associate Partners and External Experts were invited to be present on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 September 2019.

 

Travel

To travel by train to the University of Cambridge from London Heathrow takes around 2 hours and 44 minutes. A number of changes are required.

Accommodation

Accommodation was arranged for all ESRs and Partners at St Catharine's College, Cambridge (https://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/conferences/bed-and-breakfast).

Social Events

On Thursday (12 September 2019) at 18:30, there was a punting tour followed by dinner at Stem + Glory (https://www.stemandglory.uk/) at 19:30.

 

Detailed Agenda

 

Locations: Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge (Workshop 3); Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University Botanic Garden (Annual Meeting)

The first three days (Training Workshop 3) took place in the Chemistry Department at the University of Cambridge: Unilever Lecture Theatre (Tuesday 11 September to Wednesday 12 September 2019) and Wolfson Lecture Theatre (Thursday 12 September 2019). Annual Meeting 3, on Friday 13 September 2019, took place in the Sainsbury Laboratory at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

 

Programme:

Tuesday 10 September 2019

Unilever Lecture Theatre

09:00-09:15          Registration

09:15-09:30          Introduction

09:30-12:00          Career Service: how to write a CV and cover letter for job application (both industry/academic)

12:00-13:00          Lunch, Unilever Lecture Theatre Foyer

13:00-14:45          CV/cover letter preparation

14:45-15:00          Break, Unilever Lecture Theatre Foyer

15:00-16:00          Round table discussion Feedback form other ESR

16:00-17:00          Talk by former group alumni in academia: how did you secure a position?

Return to hotel; everyone free for the evening. Cambridge has many restaurants ranging from reasonably priced to expensive.

 

Wednesday 11 September 2019

Unilever Lecture Theatre

09:00-12:00          Feedback session with Career Service

12:00-13:00          Lunch, Unilever Lecture Theatre Foyer

13:00-14:30          Mock Interview by Academic

14:30-14:45          Break, Unilever Lecture Theatre Foyer

14:45-16:00          Mock Interview by Academic

16:00-17:00          Round table discussion with Feedback form other ESR

Return to hotel; everyone free for the evening. Cambridge has many restaurants ranging from reasonably priced to expensive.

 

Thursday 12 September 2019

Wolfson Lecture Theatre

09:00-10:30          Talk by former group alumni in Industry (Bernd Bruchmann from BASF, Maik Scherer from Louisenthal, Olimpia Onelli from Ernst & Young, Christopher Wilkins from Dehns): what was your transition like, how is to work in R&D, how IP is managed?

10:30-12:00          Q&A - Networking opportunities

12:00-13:00          Lunch, Todd-Hamied Meeting Room

13:00-14:30          Mock Interview by Industry Representatives

14:30-14:45          Break, Todd-Hamied Meeting Room

14:45-15:45          Mock Interview by Industry Representatives

15:45-16:30          Talk by Industry representatives: what qualities do you look for when you interview a prospective employee? What was your career path?

16:30-17:00          Final round table discussion - Feedback form entire workshop

18:30                    Punting tour, leaving from Scudamores Punting Company, Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AB 

19:30                    Network Dinner at Stem + Glory (https://www.stemandglory.uk/)      

 

Friday 13 September 2019 - Annual Meeting 3

Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University Botanic Garden

08:00-08:45          Welcome & Keynote (45 mins); SIAB presentation - Prof. Christoph Neinhuis

08:45-09:45          ESR Presentations (3): 20 minutes per project (including 5 mins for Q&A) - Jordan Ferria (UCAM); Amar Surapaneni (ALU-FR); Livia Bast (USTRATH)

09:45-10:00          Break

10:00-12:00          ESR Presentations (4): 20 minutes per project (including 5 mins for Q&A) - Aristotelis Kamtsikakis (UNIFR);Ha-Neul Chae (ALU-FR); Gea van de Kerkhof (UCAM); Benjamin Droguet (UCAM)

12:00-12:45          Lunch, Henslow Room

12:45-13:15          Secondment Planning session

13:15-14:00          Supervisory Board / SIAB

14:00-15:00          ESR Presentations (2): 20 minutes per project (including 5 mins for Q&A) - Johannes Bergmann (UNIFR); Konstantinos Roumpos (ALU-FR)

15:00-15:15          Closing session

Bus leaves for London Heathrow at 15:30 for partners

 

Contact

 

If you have any questions, please contact:

Claire Scott

Project Manager

PlaMatSu ITN Project, University of Strathclyde

claire.scott@strath.ac.uk