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[ubereglu]

As some of you know I'm currently studying for a biology degree and am hoping to carry out a year placement as part of my degree-unfortunately I've since been turned down by everywhere I have applied too and am slowly running out of options-in fairness in a few cases it was simply because they couldn't afford to pay me due to budgetary constraints-which is even more annoying.

 

I'm mostly wanting something plant-science based and wondered if any of you could give me a heads up or could give any suggestions/have experience of this.

Edited March 11, 2013 by Guest

[rachel19]

Have you tried Kew Royal Botanical Gardens in West Sussex? They have the millenium seed bank project and do a lot of other scientific work with plants - I did a conservation degree and know they are involved with a lot of students as well. Worth a try maybe?

[Sheilaz]

Have you tried Rothamsted? I know they do various placements but no idea about a paid year, but might be worth your while enquiring. It would be brilliant experience.

All the best, I hope you find something.

[Cinnamon]

I am going through the same with my daughter at the moment......I think she is looking at non paid positions with a view to working part time on her days off,weekends & evenings. her boyfriend is doing the same himself at the moment & is placed with a rep theatre company,& also working his socks off at the Cosmo restaurant in London.

 

I think paid placements are rare to come by. Have you considered working too?

[TheGirlsMum]

Thinking along the lines of Cinnamon don't that there are many paid places out there but if your still in Brum have you tried the Botanical gardens or the other end of the scale down here we have the Eden project, they do degree courses.

[Lewis]

The obvious place (and guess you've asked) would be the Botanical Gardens in Brum.

IGER in Aber also springs to mind, is a huge grassland and agricultural research centre/nursery

 

I had a placement and worked full time in the Summer of my first year. Luckily it was paid but it was a 2.5 hour round trip to drive everyday so it paid for the petrol.

 

I find that its not always what you know, but who you know and all about networking.

See if any of your lecturers have contacts, go in to the Botanical Gardens and ask rather than emailing - its harder to say no to someones face than to ignore an email

 

I used to send out about 20 letters for each placement I needed to get, I now know quite a few people, or know who to ask so will go up to farms and offer to work for free... they can't really say no!

[craftyhunnypie]

Do you mind living away from home at all during your placement?

If not you could try Bodnant Gardens near Conway, Or Ness Gardens on The Wirral. Hows about a placement abroad?

I know you want a Biology sort of placement - but everything that grows involves Science. Maybe Vineyards, Fruit Farms, Hops growers in Bavaria, Olive plantations in Provence. Or try the Forestry organisations - as they have to do tests on tree saplings etc for any fungus. Maybe try all garden centre chains like Dobbies & Wyevale.

I know in Cheshire we had Bridgemere garden world & there was also a research nursery at Goostrey.

I'm trying my best for you here, as I know what it's like to have to find a placement.

 

Emma.x

[ubereglu]

I tried Kew-they were one of the places that turned me down. Rothamstead don't have anything for the minute and various botanic gardens either don't have the staff or will advertise their positions later on. The Eden Project could have offered me a year placement, but don't have enough funds to let me do so, as it would be unethical for me to work for them for free for the year and I really can't afford to.

 

Managed to send off an application to TGAC this morning though, and picked up a copy of Farmers Weekly, which I have now written a list of potential breeders to get in contact with. Mum has also dropped a line to a few of our farming relatives to see if they know anyone/anything which might prove useful. Fingers crossed...

[TAJ]

Eden project? Very into research and supporting education.

 

T

[Scary Mary]

Have you tried the Royal Horticultural Society?

 

Good Luck !

[Egluntyne]

Why would it be unethical to work for them for free? It's what many people in your position do ....and I imagine that the experience to be had there would be second to none. It would look very good on your CV.

 

How about the Lost Gardens of Heligan or the National Arboretum?

[ubereglu]

Why would it be unethical to work for them for free? It's what many people in your position do ....and I imagine that the experience to be had there would be second to none. It would look very good on your CV.

 

How about the Lost Gardens of Heligan or the National Arboretum?

 

Because I would be working for them for an entire year, in a position, which rightly should be paid, but they just can't afford to take anyone on-RE Eden Project, and it didn't sit entirely comfortably with them.

 

I did e-mail the RHS, but haven't heard back...Will try for the Lost Gardens of Heligan though,I thought about them the other day actually.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

You could try McBeans orchids in Lewes, Sussex. They are a big grower of orchids. Have you considered looking in the Netherlands, an awful lot of plants sold in the UK come from the Netherlands.

[Yorkshire Pudding]

I did three six-month placements in similar settings for my degree - one was at Rothamsted; most of their students seemed to be there for summer placements rather than a full year. My other placements were with agrochemical companies who seemed to take on quite a lot of undergraduates to do field trials and the like. Have you tried any of those?

[TheGirlsMum]

What about the National Trust?

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Does it have to be a year in the same place....maybe shorter placements organised back to back would be easier to find?

 

Good luck xx

[ubereglu]

Firstly, thank you for all your replies. Secondly, having read your posts I have to say I had, unsurprisingly, thought of most of the organisations mentioned. Realistically it has to be at least a 9 month placement, as I have foreseeably managed to secure something for the summer, fingers crossed, but it you have any more suggestions they'd be most welcome.

 

I applied to the the majority of pharmaceutical companies still based in the UK, but was rejected and several places who used to offer year placements can now no longer afford to do so due to budgetary constraints. The Lost Gardens of Heligan do not offer undergraduate placements at the current time, nor do the RHS, (you can do a month or so as a volunteer, but nothing longer term sadly).

 

I have been in the process to see if there are any more plant breeders I could do a placement with and agronomists too.

 

It's all just proving rather difficult at the minute and it feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall...

[Jules.]

Really hope you find something soon

[Lavenders_Blue]

I drive past this place on my way to work in Peterborough. I have no idea if they could offer a placement or if it is even the sort of place you are looking at but I thought I would mention it in case it is of any help.

[ubereglu]

I drive past this place on my way to work in Peterborough. I have no idea if they could offer a placement or if it is even the sort of place you are looking at but I thought I would mention it in case it is of any help.

 

Ooh, thank you very much. The website has at least got some useful links to people I can e-mail. You never know, someone might be of help.

[abwsco]

Hope you do manage to get something sorted out. Must be so frustrating for you

[Charlottechicken]

David Austin Roses near Wolverhampton are breeders. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you're looking for though

[ubereglu]

Hope you do manage to get something sorted out. Must be so frustrating for you

 

It really is. I cried on my tutor about it all on Wednesday, it feels like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall at times. You put so much effort into each application and still get the same, 'no' as a response. On a more positive note the National Botanic Garden of Wales have just released their placements, so I've got that to at least apply for this afternoon. Hopefully something will come in the end...

 

On the plus side I'm very used to the procedure of writing applications and 'networking' now and have had some really nice e-mails back in response from various sources-hopefully that will at least partly help when I leave uni...

[ubereglu]

Thought I'd give you a quick update-I had an interview at the genome analysis centre in Norwich almost a fortnight ago, so should hear back soon-fingers crossed.

 

Also, I got in touch with PGRO, and I have an informal interview with them next Wednesday thanks to me sending them an e-mail enquiry and they may potentially have a position for me-so thank you very much for your suggestions!

[surfer_chicken]

That's great news hope you get some more good news soon