Oh god, you have my upmost sympathy. I am only just about to start my PhD and I have already started to feel guilty when I'm not reading papers. Is this what I have to look forward to

Cheers Just for interest, are you doing an MD or are you a PhD?

Thats my kind of talk freelancemermaid

Sorry to post again!!! but this link contains the breakdown of al accreditied courses for the uk -

http://www.ibms.org/index.cfm?method=education_and_careers.biomedical_science_courses

Back on topic...I had a little look at the course and its entrance req. and modules seem very similar to mine (which was a very good course). Are you studying to become a biomedical scientist (BMS), or is this a route into medicine for you. The only reason I ask is that if your wanting to become a BMS it is sometimes a bad idea to study at a medical school as they all presume you really want to study medicine and as a result, your scientific education may be poorer. I made a specific effort to get a course within a scientific department and this had paid off two fold due to the intensitiy of the scientific modules (although I didn't thank them at the time) and the links with industry. I was actually asked at one of my PhD interviews about whether my dept. was medical or scientific! However, if your wanting to go into medicine eventually, then any ties with a medical school are excellent! Hope this helps Dan

Hi, I'm a biomedical graduate from liverpool - just wanted to point out about IBMS accreditation (apologies if your already aware of this!). To work as a state registered biomedical scientist within the NHS it is necesary not only complete a biomedical degree, but one that is accredited by the IBMS (for all the info see www.ibms.org). I know this sounds like an obvious thing to check but I have friends that had studied a similar sylibus to me but have found themselves having to got back to uni and complete topup modules!

Hi, I had a similar problem when I was awaiting the results of one of my PhD interviews. I had applied for 3, two of which were equaly matched in terms of their desirability (If that word can be used to describe a PhD!!) the other was one recommended by my undergrad uni. I had the three interviews within a week, heard from the poorer one in the same week offering me the post but neither of the two I really fancied. Any hows I simply sent an email to the supervisors explaining that I had been offered a post however, I couldnt make the decision until I heard from them (basically saying I was more interested in what they were offering). They were great about this and got back to me within three days - subsequently I got the better post!! In my limited experience, just being straight up and laying your cards on the table works and supervisors are humans after all (well most of them!!) Hope this helps.

Thanks Matthew82, good luck with yours also

Hi konic, I'm pretty sure that we are in the same building! When I had my tour i'm sure all the labs from the different schools are located within the same corridor. I'm looking at muscle dysfuction in osteoarthritis Whats your title?

I tended to freeze fresh, unfixed sections using isopentane cooled with liquid nitrogen until it became slush like. Providing you have a good cryostat, there is no problem in sectioning fresh frozen specimens. Just remember to ensure that they are kept dry i.e. not in saline when they are first removed from the patient (a moist gauze is suitable)if you intend doing any subsequent enzyme studies etc. Hope this helps!

Hi, I'm no expert by any means but have worked in diagnostic IHC for a year during my degree. Visit www.ibms.org for some preprepared SOP's

Thats great thanks...just can't wait to get started now!

I'm due to start my PhD in September (at Nottingham Uni / AstraZeneca) and just wondering what to expect in terms of a working week? I've had no guidelines as yet and just wondering whether 9 - 5 would be sufficient? Cheers

I've had a few research papers through too....starting to get really excited now!!! Hope that will last for the next three years!

I'll be based at the University of Nottingham (Sutton Bonington Campus) and AstraZeneca in Alderly Edge...PhD is in Osteoarthritis Research...anybody doing anything similar?