Hi Shanghaichica, I'm working in bone research. Which projects did you apply for?

Hey, I'll send you an email regarding specifics about the group, Colin etc but you won't find a better supervisor. There are regular seminars and journal clubs so you should get plenty of chances to practice speaking (I've got to do one soon) and there are public speaking/scientific writing courses held at Roslin. You are also able to attend courses at Edinburgh uni and other places (even abroad in some cases) which will be funded by the BBSRC. And, although Edinburgh's cold it's got to be warmer than Norway!!!!

I've only just started doing westerns, but isn't it the opposite? I've been diluting primary Abs at 1:1000-1:5000 for westerns but 1:100-1:500 for IHC. I'm sure you need a higher concentration for IHC compared to westerns

Oh, and regarding previous work experience, as far as I know everyone in my research group had previously worked as a tech or research assistant. It's definately a major, major advantage and it's the reason that I got on the PhD. Let me know if you want to know anything else and I'll give you my email address

Hi, I'm at Roslin. Just started here last October and I'm enjoying it so far. It's got a different feel to being in a university department (as others have said, it sometimes feels more like a job) but the people are all very friendly. The funding is good (students get a decent budget for consumables, conference attendance and travel etc) and the facilities (such as a computer, desk, lab equipment) are fine. It's a bit of a trek from Edinburgh city centre though, so it would help if you've got a car, or live on a direct bus route

I agree that a lot of specialist jobs may require a degree in English, foreign languages etc, but there are also a lot of jobs that simply require a degree so I suppose it's useful for that. There must be some purpose to a media studies degree otherwise so many people wouldn't be doing them (surely they can't all end up working in fast food places?).

Matthew82, surely a media studies degree is useful for some people, particularly if they want a career in this area? Yeah, I agree that a lot of people will take it because it seems like an easy choice but seeing as these people are now paying for their degrees then surely that's their loss and not the university's?

Also what do you mean by non-universities?

I was really looking forward to starting my PhD as well, but so far it's not going as well as I'd hoped. I'm probably just too impatient though and hopefully things will look brighter once I get some results.

I still reckon Sheff Wed have an outside shot at promotion

Though as long as we finish above Leeds I'll be happy

Yep, I had to fill in a form from the BBSRC in May. Mine's not a CASE studentship though, so maybe they're different. Or prehaps they're just not planning on paying you.............

Would definately recommend The Secret History as well. Also anything by Douglas Coupland or Haruki Murakami

erm, I wouldn't go buying any hats just yet DanB. I have no plans of getting married in the forseable future if i can avoid it!

H, pharmacology and clinical sciences are in the med school, next to the hallamshire hospital.

Yep, I did a Bsc in biomedical science at Sheff hallam.

I'm in clinical sciences south in the bone biology group.

I'm in Sheff too. Working as a research tech at the moment but starting a PhD in Edinburgh/London in October.