Careers Resource Archive

Virologist

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in curious, logical, patient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Virology is the study of viral infections, such as rubella, herpes, hepatitis and HIV. Virologists specialise in the identification and characterisation of viruses that cause infection. Virologists may screen populations at risk of specific diseases or investigate how diseases have spread through the environment. Virologists may have research interests such as sterilisation and disinfection, the design and maintenance of operating theatres and other clinical areas, cleaning and waste disposal or food preparation and hygiene.

Attributes: logical, curious and patient

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Alexandra Wilson, a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Dr Grace Roberts and a downloadable slideshow about Nelly Mak. who are all virologists. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Software engineer

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in Communicator, logical, patient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Computer Science, Maths (Primary) Algebra, Maths, Number, Primary, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Software engineers create, maintain, audit and improve systems to meet particular needs. They test hardware and software systems to diagnose and resolve system faults. Software engineers also write diagnostic programs and write code for operating systems and software.

Attributes: logical, patient, communicator

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Edward Thompson and a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Rebecca Harding who are software engineers. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Science communicator

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in creative, curious, logical Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Science (Primary) Algebra, Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Electricity, Everyday Materials, Evolution and Inheritance, Forces, Forces and Magnets, Geometry, Light, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Measurement, Number, Plants, Position and direction, Primary, Properties of shapes, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, Sound, States of Matter, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Science communicators communicate science to the general public. They need to make scientific research understandable to people who may not have a background or career in science. Science communicators can be a science journalists or work in a university press office promoting the scientific research carried out by academics. They may deliver science shows or organise events at science festivals, schools or science centres or design and make interactive exhibits for science centres.

Attributes: creative, curious, logical

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Caroline Riggs and a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Ginny Smith who are both science communicators. They also have a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Dr Sarah Bearchell who is a children’s science writer and presenter and a downloadable slideshow about Margaret Donald who is an operations coordinator. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Poultry scientist

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in committed, creative, organised Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Chemistry, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Evolution and Inheritance, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Poultry scientists use biology and chemistry to improve and manage the production and management of poultry for human consumption. They research the growth, development, physiology, genetics, nutrition, behaviour, and breeding of domesticated birds. They often work in laboratories but some poultry scientists work directly with flocks. They design feeding programs and new poultry products. They may assess individual birds to determine if they are fit for market and when diseases arise, they work with veterinarians to resolve issues and preserve the flock.

Attributes: organised, creative and committed

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Tessa Nash who is a poultry scientist. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Polar scientist

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in creative, open-minded, passionate Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Maths, Maths (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Everyday Materials, Geography, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Plants, Primary, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, States of Matter/by Melanie Horan

Polar science helps to inform the sustainable use of resources and to protect the planet. It includes many different types of research in the polar regions. Glaciologists study the ice in the polar regions. Space physicists study how space interacts with the upper atmosphere using lasers. Atmospheric scientists look for pollution, ozone and other changes to the atmosphere. Marine or terrestrial biologists study life in the polar regions, while oceanographers study the seas and oceans. Geologists study the rocks and sediments in the polar regions to understand the climate in the past. Meteorologists study the links between the polar atmosphere and changes in global weather.

Attributes: passionate, creative and open-minded.

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Prem Singh Gill who is a polar scientist. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Neuroscientist

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in curious, imaginative, patient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Computer Science, Maths (Primary), Physics, Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Evolution and Inheritance, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Neuroscientists research and explore the brain, spinal cord and nervous system and develop treatments for a range of neurological issues. These include studying the brain’s role in mental illnesses such as depression or schizophrenia, the impact of trauma such as a stroke or head injury on the brain, or the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as epilepsy, motor neuron disease or Alzheimer’s disease.

Attributes: imaginative, patient and curious

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Cliona Kelly who is a neuroscientist, a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about neurobiologist, Dr Aarti Sehdev and a downloadable slideshow about neurophysiologist, Danielle Johnson. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Meta researcher

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in curious, patient, resilient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Computer Science, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Electricity, Everyday Materials, Evolution and Inheritance, Forces, Forces and Magnets, Light, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Number, Plants, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, Sound, States of Matter, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Meta researchers study research itself. They study research methods, reporting, reproducibility, evaluation, and incentives. They ensure, promote, and defend robust science, free from biases. They ensure all results from scientific investigations are evidence based.

Attributes: curious, patient, resilient

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Emma Wilson who is an a meta researcher. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Machine learning engineer

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in Communicator, curious, imaginative Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Computer Science, Maths (Primary) Algebra, Maths, Number, Primary, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Machine learning engineers combine software engineering and data analysis to create programmes and algorithms that enable machines to take actions without being directed. They provide computers with the ability to learn automatically and improve from experience, without being programmed.

Attributes: imaginative, curious, communicator

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Kaushik Hatti who is an a machine learning scientist. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Forensic genetics researcher

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in hard-working, observant, self-motivated Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Chemistry, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Forensic genetics researchers work with DNA. They work in medical or crime laboratories using genetic samples to help identify crime victims, perpetrators or family relationships. Forensic genetics researchers develop and use new methods to help analyse crime scene evidence.

Attributes: observant, self-motivated and hard-working

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Dr Anastasia Aliferi who is a forensic genetics researcher. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Epigeneticsics research assistant

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in collaborative, hard-working, organised Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Science (Primary) Animals including humans, Evolution and inheritance, Living things and their habitats Animals Including Humans, Evolution and Inheritance, Living Things and Their Habitats, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Epigenetics is the study of how experiences and environment can affect how genes are expressed and whether they release the information they carry. The main role of an epigenetics research assistant is to provide technical assistance in carrying out various research projects in epigenetics. This can include designing experiments, collecting data, preparing samples and maintaining equipment.

Attributes: collaborative, organised, hard-working

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Laura Benson who is an epigenetics research assistant. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Virologist

Software engineer

Science communicator

Poultry scientist

Polar scientist

Neuroscientist

Meta researcher

Machine learning engineer

Forensic genetics researcher

Epigeneticsics research assistant

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