Work experience
PML runs a work experience programme offering week long
placements to school students to develop their interest in marine
science and give them a flavour of working life in a marine
laboratory.
Placements are available in all science areas
as well as operation's activities. Activities may include
anything from shadowing in the laboratories, observing on research
vessels or working with our Earth Observation team.
Student testimonials
Victoria Clarke
Victoria (below) completed work experience in the laboratory in
2011:
"In the week commencing the 5th of September, I had
the great pleasure of assisting Dr.Frances Hopkins in her
laboratory studies at PML on Plymouth Hoe for my work experience.
How was it? Wow. That just about sums it up.
I could leave it at that because that would be
a suitable description of one of the most amazing and interesting
weeks of my life, not to mention one that will definitely help me
in my future jobs and has influenced my plans for the future
immensely. However, on the first morning with nerves of excitement
jittering in my stomach I would have said
otherwise. I was so nervous about the
week, but when Frankie’s smiling face came down the stairs to take
me up to her office, I was sure everything would be fine. I think
that was one of the highlights of the week, meeting all the amazing
and friendly people that work at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. They
were all so helpful and willing to show me all their experiments
which I learnt lots from. I hope to keep in contact with them as I
made some great connections.
As for the lab work, sea gases was a totally
new concept for me that I’d never thought would impact the
world before, but I soon learnt that all the little algae in the
sea have a massive effect on our climate. I was working with a
group looking at ocean acidification and so we carried out many
tests on DMS and DMSP in the lab, which I was able to run on my
own! We also looked at the effect of time on the levels of DMS and
DMSP in our own experiment from a sea sample taken on the Hoe. This
allowed me to see how a whole experiment comes together, and I
found it fascinating to see how the levels changed, especially when
we compared them in light and dark conditions.
On Wednesday I was fortunate enough to go out
on the marine boat Sepia with Trish Frickers as my temporary
supervisor to see how the scientists create their own samples and
to learn more about their work. I found it exhilarating to go out
into the fresh waves early in the morning, but got very muddy! The
boat trip was phenomenal, something I’d never associated with the
laboratory.
This week has made me realise that a career in
science is definitely the path I’d like to follow, and I could
really see myself working at PML. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stay
in touch to organise some voluntary work in the summer to help out
anyone who needs it. Finally, I’d like to say an enormous thank you
to everyone who worked with me this week, and especially
to Frankie for taking me under her wing. I loved every second
of it."
Nick Dunn
Nick (pictured right) also completed a week of work
experience with us last year:
"Over the past week I have been at PML working
with Trish Frickers. It has been a great experience and I carried
out an investigation into the presence of musks (Tonalide and
Galaxolide) in the River Plym. I collected four water samples from
the river and then came back to the lab to prepare and analyse them
using the GC/MS. I filtered the samples through a Whatman GF/F
filter, added an internal standard of Phenanthrene D10 and 50ml of
dichloromethane. I then separated the phases and, using the rotary
evaporating equipment, reduced the sample volume to 3ml. From there
I further reduced the sample volume to 1ml using a stream of
nitrogen. I then constructed a sequence for the GC/MS and sat
back to let him do the work.
Looking through the data analysis of my
results was very interesting and, even though I didn’t find what I
was looking for, I enjoyed learning to use the system. On Tuesday I
went out on the Quest with Denise and helped to collect samples for
L4. I was amazed at how much took place out there and it was great
to see it all in action. I was particularly interested to see the
zooplankton and phytoplankton that had been collected. I would like
to thank both Denise and the crew of the Quest for being so
welcoming and allowing me to tag along to have a look at what goes
on.
I would also like to thank Trish for allowing
me to work with her for the week and giving me an insight into what
she does every day. I thoroughly enjoyed my week at PML and I
learnt a great deal about marine science and chemistry, this will
prove invaluable in years to come. Thank you for letting me
complete my work experience at PML."
Applications for 2012
placements are now closed. Results will be announced as soon
as possible in the New Year.
Applications for 2013 will be accepted
from July 2012 onwards.