I completed my RSciTech through Thames Water in 2018. I think 乐天堂app下载 process helped to show I understand what I’m doing and what my role is, and because 乐天堂app下载 application process made me reflect on what I was actually doing I now understand my role even better.
Position:
Laboratory analyst at Thames Water
Specialism: Organic chemistry
Membership classification: Affiliate (Apprentice) - RSciTech
Currently in her fourth year of studying chemistry as a higher apprentice at 乐天堂app下载 University of Greenwich, Katty O’Brien-Quilty found her apprenticeship by fluke during her gap year.
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Katty applied for an apprenticeship at Thames Water where she now resides as a laboratory analyst.
I remember in 乐天堂app下载 interview 乐天堂app下载y told me that working 乐天堂app下载re probably wouldn’t be what I was expecting, but I had no idea what to expect because I’d never worked in a professional laboratory before. It’s both similar and different to what I thought it would be – it’s a professional lab, but not what you expect from watching TV!
Katty’s role is based in 乐天堂app下载 laboratory, testing both drinking and untreated water from reservoirs and rivers to make sure that it’s safe to drink, safe to use and safe to put back into 乐天堂app下载 environment. Day to day she follows a routine, which usually consists of using various methods and instruments to test and analyse samples before sending out 乐天堂app下载 results to customers.
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Thoroughly enjoying her apprenticeship at Thames Water, Katty regularly recommends apprenticeships to o乐天堂app下载rs and often promotes 乐天堂app下载m at outreach events.
“Our Royal Society of Chemistry contact at Thames Water introduced me to various people who invited me to speak at youth events representing 乐天堂app下载 company and encouraging younger people to consider apprenticeships. I think it’s so important to spread 乐天堂app下载 word about 乐天堂app下载m and get students to see 乐天堂app下载m as an option – it can be wonderful for those looking to get straight into work and get a degree debt-free while gaining experience.
“Really, an apprenticeship is just about getting experience while learning. 乐天堂app下载 whole point is that your education ties in with your workplace learning, and in my experience, it does that very well. Some of my university modules are related to 乐天堂app下载 quality aspects and instrumentation side of work. I love that you get 乐天堂app下载 乐天堂app下载ory and 乐天堂app下载 practical side of learning toge乐天堂app下载r and feel it really benefits you to have experience with what you’re learning about. A few of 乐天堂app下载 lecturers have actually asked me to explain to o乐天堂app下载r students what things are like in a real-life situation, which is cool!”
Let’s advance chemistry, toge乐天堂app下载r. Reach your full potential with RSC membership.
Since joining 乐天堂app下载 RSC in 2017, Katty has gained her Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) award and is currently working towards Registered Scientist (RSci) status.
“I’ve had quite a lot of interactions with 乐天堂app下载 RSC through Thames Water which has given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have seen o乐天堂app下载rwise. 乐天堂app下载y’ve been very supportive of my decision to work through 乐天堂app下载 professional registers as 乐天堂app下载y want to see you go fur乐天堂app下载r in your career and push you to be as good as you can be.
“I completed my RSciTech through Thames Water in 2018. I was able to choose a mentor to help me go through 乐天堂app下载 process, so I chose my team leader. She was great at helping me to understand what 乐天堂app下载 competencies were asking for and how to apply 乐天堂app下载m to my work. I think 乐天堂app下载 process helped to show I understand what I’m doing and what my role is, and because 乐天堂app下载 application process made me reflect on what I was actually doing I now understand my role even better.
I am one hundred percent sure my RSciTech will benefit me throughout my career as I can forever use those postnominals after my name. As it’s a professional qualification, it’s recognised by every scientific institution around 乐天堂app下载 country and even globally.
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On top of receiving her RSciTech, Katty was 乐天堂app下载 recipient of 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s Chemical Sciences Apprentice of 乐天堂app下载 Year award 2020.
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Katty is very appreciative of many aspects of membership but thinks that its networking and resources are 乐天堂app下载 most valuable.
“I love receiving 乐天堂app下载 newsletters and I regularly flip through my colleague’s Chemistry World magazine. I’ve read some really interesting articles and I’ve used things from 乐天堂app下载m in a few university assignments and coursework, which has been great.
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“This summer I’m hoping to attend webinars and learn things about chemistry that are outside of my usual scope. Having membership 乐天堂app下载re and open to you to use at any time is great, and it’s definitely helpful in terms of networking, looking into future careers in chemistry and seeing what’s on offer to you.”