• Question: What education did you need to start being a scientist?

    Asked by donnishmaciek to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Vijay, Will on 18 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 18 Jun 2012:

      Hi donnishmaciek,
      I did A levels in Biology, Maths and Chemistry so that I could do a degree in Zoology. After that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a PhD or not so I did a Masters degree first. After that I did my PhD and then got my job in the lab here!
      Hope this answers your question 🙂

    • Photo: Will Reynolds

      Will Reynolds answered on 18 Jun 2012:

      I did Maths, Chemsitry and Physics at A-level and then did a degree in Chemsitry. After my degree I decided I wanted to carry on with science so I am now doing a PhD in Chemistry and will hopefully get a job next year when I finish.

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi donnushmaciek,

      I did A levels physics, maths and philosophy, went to university in Cambridge and studied natural sciences, which is all sorts of science courses you choose. I did geology, materials science and physics in my first year, and then physics for three more years because it was the one I knew least about! Then I got a job in a science lab in St Andrews where I did my own science research, and after 3 years I submitted a big report on all the research work I had done, called a thesis, and was given my second degree for this – a doctorate, so I’m now Dr Sarah. 🙂
      So generally you can become a scientist after three or four years at university, and then get a job, or if something interests you very much, you can do a doctorate (PhD) afterwards too, and maybe even become a professor one day!
      Are you going to go for it?
      🙂 Sarah

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