1 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

School of Chemical EngineeringFirst destinations of postgraduates

What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

n AnalysisoffirstemploymentdestinationsfortheCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalSciences

n EmployabilitydataforChemicalEngineeringpostgraduates,2009–13n Illustrationoftherangeofoccupationsundertakenbyourpostgraduates

www.birmingham.ac.uk/chemical-engineering

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

2 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

Foreword

IAMDELIGHTEDTOINTRODUCE‘WHATDOBIRMINGHAMPOSTGRADUATESDO?’WHICHLOOKSINDETAILATTHEFIRSTDESTINATIONSOFOURCHEMICALENGINEERINGPOSTGRADUATESANDATEMPLOYMENTPROSPECTSFORALLPOSTGRADUATESWITHINTHEWIDERCOLLEGEOFENGINEERINGANDPHYSICALSCIENCES.

Inadditiontoprovidingaccessibleinformationonemploymentdestinations,thispublicationisalsodesignedtogiveaninsightintothekindsofemploymentsectorsandjobsforwhichapostgraduatedegreeatBirminghamcanprepareyou.

Pursuingapostgraduatedegreeoffersyoutheopportunitytoexploreyourchosenareaofinterestindepth,aswellasdevelopingyourknowledgeandunderstandinginasubjectareaaboutwhichyouaretrulypassionate.Beyondthetransferableskillsthatyouwilltakewithyouintotheworkplace,yourpostgraduate

qualificationwillgiveyouthechancetoengageincriticalenquiry,togrowasascholarandeventobecomeanexpertinyourfield.

Here,weshowyouhowyourpostgraduatequalificationcanhelpyoumakethatknowledgeandexpertiseworkforyouaftergraduation.FortheschoolthatismostrelevanttoyouintheCollege(ChemicalEngineering;Chemistry;CivilEngineering;ComputerScience;Electrical,ElectronicandSystemsEngineering;Mathematics;MechanicalEngineering;MetallurgyandMaterials;orPhysicsandAstronomy)youwillseeasnapshotoftheachievementsofourpostgraduatessixmonthsaftergraduation.Alldataistakenfromtheresultsofa‘DestinationsofLeavers’surveyissuedtoourpostgraduatesafterthistime.

Youwillbeabletosee,byschool,howmanyofthepostgraduateswhorepliedtothissurveysuccessfullyenteredemploymentand/orfurtherstudywithinjustsixmonths,alongwitharangeofthediverseandexcitingcareeropportunities

thatwillbeopentoyouafterstudyingforapostgraduatedegreeintheCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalSciences.

AccompanyingthedataarecasestudiesinwhichrecentpostgraduatealumnisharetheirexperiencesofpostgraduatestudyatBirmingham.Here,ouralumnitalkaboutthevalueinherentinpostgraduatestudy,theknowledgeandskillstheydevelopedduringtheirdegreesandwheretheirqualificationshavetakenthemsincegraduation.

Ihopeyoufindtheinformationpresentedhereusefulandouralumnistoriesinspiring.Weverymuchlookforwardtowelcomingyoutoourcampussoon.

ProfessorMarkSterlingDirectorofPostgraduatesProgrammesCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalSciences

3 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

‘ThenetworkingIdidduringmytimeatBirminghamandtheexperienceIgainedenabledmetosecurethepositionthatIhavenow.IhavebeenworkingatCadburyfortwoyearsnow,mainlyonthecommercialisationof

products–takingaproductfromthesmall-scaledevelopmentstageandmakingitonamuchlargerscaleinthefactory.Thiscanbeanythingfrommakingasmallchangeinarecipetoacompletelynewproduct.IleadprojectsfromanR&D

perspectiverightthroughfromthedesigntothelaunchoftheproduct.

‘PriortomyEngDIhadcompletedadegreeinChemistryandwasn’tsurewheretogonext.TheEngDwasperfectformeasitenabledmetogainengineeringskillsandalsotakepartintaughtcourses.Ibecameparticularlyinterestedinthefood-relatedmodules,whichconfirmedmydesiretoworkinthefoodindustry.IspentsometimeworkingforUnilever(mysponsorcompany)inVlaardingen(Netherlands)fromwhichIgainedvaluableindustrialexperience.

‘IfindtheknowledgegainedduringmyEngDhasbeenparticularlyusefulwhenworkingalongsideengineeringcolleaguesandalsowhilstrunningtrialsinthefactoryenvironment.Ihavebeenabletoshowgreattechnicalunderstandingwhenworkingonprojects,andthegeneralskillsgainedduringmyEngDsuchasorganisation,timemanagementandreportwritinghavealsobeenhugelybeneficial.’

Zoe Brown, EngDEngineeringDoctorateinFormulationEngineeringSince finishing her Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Formulation Engineering, Zoe has worked in the research and development department at Cadbury (now Kraft) based in Bournville, Birmingham. LEARN MORE www.birmingham.ac.uk/pgprofiles

TheCollegecoversabroadrangeofworld-leadingresearch,fromdevelopingmicro-enginestoparticlephysicsresearchatCERN.Withacenturyofexcellenceinresearchandteaching,theCollegeoffersexcitinginitiativesinnewfieldsofstudyandspearheadsactivitiesinstrategicallyimportantSTEMsubjects–Science,Technology,EngineeringandMathematics.

TheCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalSciencesplaysasignificantroleincreatingnewknowledge,trainingnewgenerationsofengineersandscientists,andinterfacingwithindustry.

TheCollegeconsistsofthefollowingnineschools:nChemicalEngineeringnChemistrynCivilEngineeringnComputerSciencenElectronic,ElectricalandSystemsEngineeringnMathematicsnMechanicalEngineeringnMetallurgyandMaterialsnPhysicsandAstronomy

Overthelastfiveyears,90.9%oftaughtpostgraduatesand92.5%ofresearchpostgraduatesfromtheCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalScienceshavebeeninworkand/orfurtherstudyjustsixmonthsaftergraduating.

Thetwochartstotherightshowthebreakdownofthesestatisticsforeachyear,fortaughtpostgraduateandresearchpostgraduaterespondents.

Percentage of Engineering and Physical Sciences taught postgraduate respondents in work and/or further study six months after graduation

100908070605040302010

02008/9

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

91.185.3

9283.3 85.3

Percentage of Engineering and Physical Sciences research postgraduate respondents in work and/or further study six months after graduation

100908070605040302010

02008/9

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

90.5 91.5 92.9 88.8 91.7

TheCollegeofEngineeringandPhysicalSciencesisattheleadingedgeofmodernscienceandengineering,transformingourunderstandingoftheworldtomakelifeeasier,healthierandmoresustainable.

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Employability

SOURCE:Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions,HigherEducationStatisticsAgency,2009–13

4 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Postgraduate destinations

SOURCE:Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions,HigherEducationStatisticsAgency,2009–13

100

‘AtAtkins,mostofourroleshaveaminimumrequirementofaMastersdegree.Wevaluetechnicalknowledgeandacademicachievement,whichwecanthenbuildonforthegraduateprogramme.ThisiswhywerequiremostofourgraduatestohaveaMasters.’

Kate Poade,AssistantGraduate

RecruitmentAdvisor,Atkins.

Taught postgraduate destinations

Thecharttotherightsummarisesthedestinations

ofEngineeringandPhysicalSciencestaught

postgraduatesfromthe2012/13academicyear,

sixmonthsaftergraduation:

Research postgraduate destinations

Thecharttotherightsummarisesthedestinations

ofEngineeringandPhysicalSciencesresearch

postgraduatesfromthe2012/13academicyear,

sixmonthsaftergraduation:

Working

Workingandstudying

Studying

Other

Unemployed

Working

Workingandstudying

Studying

Unemployed

80

60

40

20

0Chemical

Engineering

Per

cent

age

ofto

talr

espo

nse

Computer

Science

Mathematics

Mechanical

Engineering

Metallurgy

andMaterials

Physicsand

Astronomy

CivilEngineering

Electronic,Electrical

andSystems

Engineering

80

60

40

20

0

Per

cent

age

ofto

talr

espo

nse

Mathematics

100

Electronic,Electrical

andSystems

Engineering

Computer

Science

Metallurgy

andMaterials

Physicsand

Astronomy

Chemical

Engineering

CivilEngineering

Mechanical

Engineering

Chemical

Engineering

5 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

Highlights:Overthepastfiveyears:n79.3%oftaughtpostgraduaterespondentswereinworkor

furtherstudysixmonthsaftergraduationn95.3%ofresearchpostgraduaterespondentshadsuccessfully

foundworkorfurtherstudysixmonthsaftergraduating

ManyofBirmingham’sChemicalEngineeringpostgraduatesfollowacareerrelatedtothesubjectinvarioussectionsoftheengineeringindustry.Postgraduatestudyisthereforeincreasinglycommoninthissubjectarea,allowinggraduatestospecialiseafteranundergraduatedegree.

Themajorityofourpostgraduatesgoontolucrativecareerswithchemicalengineeringcompanies,mechanicalengineeringcompanies,constructioncompaniesandcontractors,consultancies,oilcompanies,andlocalgovernmentandgovernment-supportedscientificestablishments.Anumberofourresearchpostgraduatesforgetheirownsuccessfulcareersinacademicresearchandteaching.

Thetwochartstotherightshowresultsfrom‘DestinationsofLeavers’surveysforourChemicalEngineeringpostgraduatesoverthepastfiveyears.

BirminghamhasoneofthelargestconcentrationsofChemicalEngineeringexpertiseintheUK;wealsohavestronglinkswithkeyemployers.

‘Theon-the-job

commercialexperience

IgainedontheEngDin

FormulationEngineering

atBirminghamhasset

meapartfrommypeers.

Thiswassubstantiated

whenIappliedto

becomeaChartered

Engineerafewmonthsafterbeingawarded

theEngD.Iusedanumberofexamplesfrom

theEngDinmyapplicationandtheInstitution

ofChemicalEngineers(IChemE)judgedthat

theEngDwouldcountasafullfouryears’worth

ofexperience.Iwasdelightedtobeawarded

CorporateMembershipoftheIChemEand

CharteredEngineerstatuswithinayearof

myEngDgraduation.

‘Ihaveworkedonawiderangeofprojectsin

thepastthreeyears,fromspendingamonth

offshoreinCameroon,assessingafloating

storageandoffloading(FSO)vesselaheadofa

majorsafetystudy,todesigningprocessesand

equipmentformajorcapitalprojectsintheNorth

Sea.Inmycurrentrole,Iamresponsiblefor

assessingthefeasibilityof–andsubsequently

projectmanaging–projectstoboostproduction

fromasignificantnumberoffieldsinthe

southernNorthSea.Mycurrentjobrequires

soundcommercialknowledge,combinedwith

excellenttechnicalunderstandingoftheproject

implications,neitherofwhichIwouldpossess

hadInotcompletedtheEngD.

‘TheEngDhasbeenanenablingqualification

forme.Havingmovedtoanindustrywhere

thetacklingofoperationalissuesisvaluedover

academicresearchskills,Istillconsiderthe

EngDandtheskillsIgainedonittohavebeen

keytomysuccess.’

John Ritchie, EngDEngineeringDoctorateinFormulationEngineeringSince leaving Birmingham, John has worked for Production Services Network (UK) Ltd in Aberdeen, initially as a Process Engineer, but has recently been contracted to a major oil and gas operator as a Development Engineer.

LEARN MORE www.birmingham.ac.uk/pgprofiles

100908070605040302010

02008/9

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

Percentage of taught postgraduate respondents in work and/or further study six months after graduation

87.5 85.7

100

50

73.3

100908070605040302010

0

Percentage of research postgraduate respondents in work and/or further study six months after graduation

2008/9

9/107/8

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

10091.3

100

85

100

SOURCE:Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions,HigherEducationStatisticsAgency,2009–13

School of Chemical Engineering

EMPLOYABILITY

6 What do Birmingham postgraduates do?

Range of employment sectors

nEngineeringandrelatedtechnicalconsultancy

nHighereducation

nHumanhealthactivities

nLegalactivities

nManufactureofbeer

nManufactureofotherchemicalproducts

nManufactureofpaints

nPreservationoffood

nRegulationoftheactivitiesofproviding

healthcare,education,culturalservices

andsocialservices

nResearchandexperimentaldevelopment

innaturalsciencesandengineering

nSecondaryeducation

Range of employers

nAkzoNobel

nBarkerBrettell(Trademarkandpatentattorneys)

nFoodStandardsAgency

nIntelligentEnergy

nKoch-Glitsch(solutionsforchemical,

petrochemical,andgasprocessingindustries)

nLorienEngineeringSolutions

nMcCainFoods(GB)Ltd

nMolsonCoorsBrewery

nNationalNuclearLaboratory

nNucleargraduates

nPepsiCo

nUnilever

nUniversityofBirmingham

nWalsallCouncil

nWSPCELLtd(projectmanagement,

engineeringandconsultancy)

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.

‘MyPhDinChemicalEngineeringatBirmingham

providedafirmplatformtogainthecomplex

technicalskillsrequiredtobecomearecognised

internationalspecialistinmychosenfield.The

Schoolwashighlysupportiveandencouraged

PhDstudentstopresentresearchfindings

atinternationalconferences.Particularly,

thespiritwithintheSchoolenhancedmy

researchexperience–differentresearchgroups,

academicandsupportstaffweresoeager

toshareknowledge,assistandencourage

eachothertofosterpositiveenergies.

‘Apartfromthetechnicalintricacy,Iwas

accountableforthesuccessofmyPhD,

empoweredtodesignmyresearchframework,

establishedcollaborationswithexternalresearch

organisations,appliedforaresearchgrant

andmanagedaresearchbudget.Iwasable

tostrikea‘work–lifebalance’toembracemy

lifeatBirminghamasaninternationalstudent,

andwasactivelyengagedwiththeInternational

Officeinprovidingsupporttofellowstudents.

ShortlybeforecompletingmyPhD,the

postgraduateexperienceatBirminghamlanded

meapermanentpositionwithGlaxoSmithKline

(GSK),thelargestpharmaceuticalcompany

intheUK.Istartedmycareerwithinthe

manufacturingarmintroducingnewlydeveloped

productsintotheproductionstream.Ayearlater

IwaspromotedtobecomeaSeniorFormulation

Scientistintheresearchanddevelopment

armofthecompany.Iwasabletopolishmy

technicalexpertiseandpersonalskillsacquired

duringmypostgraduatestudyatBirmingham

andrespondtorealbusinessneeds.More

recently,Iexpandedmyhorizontobecome

aContractResearchOrganisation(CRO)

Manager–abusinessrepresentative

ofGSK,co-ordinatinganddefining

outsourcingstrategiesforresearch

anddevelopmentprojects.’

Jin-Thau Chung, PhDChemicalEngineering,graduated2005Jin-Thau is now Contract Research Organisation (CRO) Manager at GlaxoSmithKline.

LEARN MORE www.birmingham.ac.uk/pgprofiles

School of Chemical Engineering

RANGEOFOCCUPATIONS

Below is an overview of the kinds of employment sectors, organisations and professions that recent Chemical Engineering postgraduates have entered, based on responses to ‘Destinations of Leavers’ surveys conducted six months after graduation.

Range of occupations

nAssistantTechnicalOfficer

nBiochemicalEngineer

nBusinessandConsumerSupportOfficer

(EnvironmentalHealth)

nCommercialisationTechnologist

nEnvironmentalHealthOfficer

nGraduateProcessEngineer

nLecturer

nQualityCoordinator

nResearchandDevelopmentProjectManager

nResearchEngineer

nResearchFellow

nResearchScientist

nScientificOfficer

nTechnicalProcessEngineer

nTraineePatentAttorney