BBSRC Research Experience Placement at Harper

Posted 27 August 2010

Students have been given the unique opportunity to experience life as a researcher at Harper Adams, thanks to the national Research Experience Placement (REP) scheme.

Four promising students from a variety of different universities have spent up to ten weeks of their summer holidays at the University College, working in areas such as the laboratory, and on the farm.

Not only do REPs give undergraduates a first-hand opportunity to gain experience in bioscience research, but they also raise the profile of research-based careers.

Sam Withers is studing a natural sciences degree at Bath university. He said: "Coming to Harper has been a great insight into how much hard work goes into research, and what it might be like to work in that area.

"At uni I've studied more physics than biology, so coming here and looking at genes in barley plants has been something that I wouldn't have had the chance to do otherwise."

200 placements were made available at institutions across the UK, which were selected and approved by the BBSRC and the Bioscience Skills and Careers Strategy Panel.

The students are now due to complete their projects and return to their own universities.

Watch the video to hear more from Sam. For more information, see http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/studentships/research-experience-placements.aspx

Note: This scheme is now closed for 2010.