Supporting education
Moredun is totally committed to supporting the development of individuals it employs and to seek ways of continually improving current practices. The Institute is actively involved in education and training; not just for its staff but for under-graduates, postgraduates and visiting workers.
Due to its world renowned scientific record, Moredun attracts many visiting workers and students, who come to work for periods ranging from one or two days to several months. During 2003 Moredun attracted 20 postgraduate students, 27 undergraduates and a number of students undertaking their Honours projects to come and work at its research institute.
As Moredun studies are in integrated multidisciplinary teams, it provides an excellent framework for under and postgraduate studies. Students at Moredun can therefore expect to gain experience in a wide range of techniques and methodologies with full support from Moredun staff.
Personal Support
Moredun is dedicated to ensuring that every student receives the highest level of support and encouragement. Each PhD student is assigned two supervisors (one of whom is permanently based at Moredun) to give them help and guidance throughout their studies. As well as a Human Resources team, Moredun also has a dedicated Postgraduate Training Officer who monitors progress and ensures that all students receive appropriate support, assistance and training during their time at Moredun. Regular meetings are scheduled between our students and their supervisors and training officers to ensure that they receive all the help they may need.
Specialist Facilities
Moredun scientific facilities are world renowned, with ‘state of the art’ purpose-built laboratories (including category 3 containment facilities), and animal accommodation. Moredun also has superb support facilities, including a well stocked library, which provides reading, reference and research facilities for staff and students alike. Electronic facilities continue to be developed and the library has several fully networked computers for individual use. Moredun also has a dedicated PhD room, for students to use when writing up their research projects.
For many, being a student means working and living away from home, which can cause stress in itself. Moredun appreciates this and works hard to provide a lively, pleasant and supportive environment in which to study.
A Students Story
“I had always wanted to study something a bit different and my background meant that I have an excellent grounding in a wide range of biological techniques. I was attracted to this particular PhD as I realised that I would be able to use novel techniques which would be useful in my future career.” Rubina is delighted to be working at Moredun, “I feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to work at Moredun. It has excellent facilities and it is internationally acclaimed for the quality of science it produces.” Although Rubina had only visited Edinburgh once before, within a couple of weeks of starting her PhD at Moredun she had begun to settle in and feel at home. “The group I was working with at Moredun were all very friendly and everyone worked together well. I was assigned a great supervisor (Dr Colin McInnes) who is also based at Moredun and he has supported me enormously”. Rubina is keen to point out though that studying for a PhD is much more than an academic challenge. “I don’t think I had appreciated how much of a personal challenge it would be studying for a PhD. I have had to be very self disciplined and although I have had wonderful support from my supervisors and other scientists at Moredun, I have been aware that I have had to make my own decisions about where my research is going”. Moredun encourages its students to attend scientific conferences and give presentations on their work whenever possible. Rubina travelled to Trinity College, Dublin in 2003 for the European Association of Fish Pathologists Conference (EAFP) and gave a poster presentation on her work. “Going to Dublin was a wonderful experience. I was able to see how important fish health issues are and that I was part of a global team working in this area”. Rubina is due to complete her PhD early in 2004 and isn’t sure at the moment what she would like to do after that. “I would love to stay in Edinburgh working in science but I’m not sure what particular area yet. I am interested in working in healthcare as I enjoy interaction with lots of different people. But I realise that I need to remain focused on completing my PhD and enjoy my last few months at Moredun.” |
Rubina Sharif is originally from London. She moved to Manchester to study for her first degree in Biological Sciences, then went on to complete a Masters in Biological and Biochemical Parasitology before coming to Moredun to begin work on her PhD “The Cloning of Interferon Gamma in Rainbow Trout”. Although Rubina’s PhD is registered at Stirling University’s ‘Institute of Aquaculture’, she is based at Moredun due to the Institute’s expertise in molecular biology.