Why Collaborate?

I did my CASE placement within Roslin Technologies in Edinburgh, where I got to work with world-class experts in cell culture development, get training in some novel lab techniques and get to meet with Legal and R&D staff. This opportunity allowed me to get an insight into what it means to work within a company, get a better comparison between academia and industry and helped me choose my career path. Although the industry might not be suitable for everyone, I would highly recommend all PhD students to give it a try.

As a therapeutics biotech company with a broad-reaching platform we look for opportunities to add depth and breadth to our innovative programs. Our EastBio studentship, in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, delivered not only a new area of biology to apply our technology but provided the student with exposure to the commercial side of science during the project. That student is now a Senior Scientist within the company, taking the lead on a pipeline product.

The mutual ongoing collaboration between the Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and PIC have provided valuable insights that impact both the ongoing development of international breeding programs and commercial producers. The current collaboration between PIC and Dr Simon Turner and Eleanor Hewett in an ongoing example of this. The work Eleanor has done both in the UK and in the United States has highlighted that the modern genotype of pig needs to be fed to its nutritional requirement to avoid behavioural issues on farm. This is valuable knowledge that is already impacting farmers around the world. We look forward to the ongoing results!

Cairn Research has had several CASE PhD studentships with Dr Stefan Pulver’s group over recent years.  Direct interaction with a research-based company has given the student experience of product development, sales, and customer support, alongside access to cutting-edge equipment and software. In addition to having the student work on a mutually interesting project, the relationship also benefits Cairn by providing access to wet lab facilities and real biological challenges. The EastBio scheme is extremely well thought out and has clearly been designed around mutual benefit to the student, the research institute and the participating company.

We were delighted with the work Carys Redman-White did from day one. Her broad knowledge across many scientific disciplines and independent working was treasured among colleagues of numerous Zoetis departments. Final evaluations, papers and presentations from her proved very valuable and are still at the core of numerous ongoing workstreams. We also tried to introduce Carys to a broad range of colleagues to show her the wide array of possibilities in the animal health-industry.

My internship with Zoetis gave me a great insight into the animal health industry and the wide variety of roles available to vets and scientists within the company. I benefited from a range of training, participated in meetings and was able to join on a manufacturing site visit during my stay. The work I was assigned was interesting and varied, and allowed me to gain new skills and develop existing ones.

Hannah Farley’s work at Cefas provided her invaluable experience beyond the academic sphere. Cefas experimental aquarium facilities enabled Hannah to gain experience in oyster breeding and hatchery production - a unique opportunity that is unparalleled in the UK. Concurrently, the insights gained from studying the microbiome of oyster larvae, particularly its interactions with abiotic and biotic factors, proved greatly advantageous for Cefas. This collaborative endeavour not only enhanced Hanna’s practical knowledge but also allowed Cefas to gain additional expertise to offer informed guidance to the shellfish industry and associated stakeholders.

Working with my CASE partner, Roslin Technologies, has been a valuable part of my PhD. Carrying out my placement with the company let me gain an understanding of how ‘doing science’ works in a commercial setting and build my network of contacts.