Thanks for responding, that would be my ideal option but HR aren't getting back to me at all and Google is a dead end :(

Hi all,

I am currently applying for biological science/medical research based phds. I graduated in 2010 with a mixed science degree and have been working as a research scientist in a small biotech since. I have a reference sorted from my company but cannot contact my old personal tutor (who i had the most contact with due to the mixed departments of my degree) as he has left the university. Most positions i see advertised recommend an academic reference.

I could contact my final year project supervisor but the project did not go well (2.2 mark but have a 2.1 degree grade) or I could contact my placement supervisor (but not an academic reference) or try and chase up my old tutor via the university's HR department (who was my personal tutor for all 4 years of my undergrad). Which of these would be the best option for my 2nd reference? Any advice would be most appreciated thanks!