Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I work in the IVF laboratory, where as part of a team we are responsible for the scientific side of a patients IVF treatment. These include egg collection, insemination, embryo culture, embryo transfers and storage.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday - Egg collections and sperm preparation in the morning, embryo morphology checks, embryo freezing, embryo transfer. Insemination's in the afternoon.

Tuesday and Thursday - preparing sperm for insemination treatments, embryo morphology checks, embryo freezing, embryo transfer.

I enjoy all aspects of my job, but I particularly enjoy the patient contact. It makes the long hours and really hard work worthwhile when you hear from patients who are so thankful you did your best to help them have children.

The amount of responsibility and pressure an Embryologist works under is very challenging. You have to be perfect in everything you do, because the consequences can be devastating.

During the second and third year of my degree I studied a number of modules to do with early embryo development, genetics and reproduction, which showed my how incrediblly complex and beautiful early life could be.

After completeing my 4th year (MBiolSci) I was searhcing for a career that would combine my passion for science but that would also directly influence and help patients.
Embryology, for me combines perfectly scientific knowlegde and skills with direct patient care and treatment.

A lot of my scientific knowledge from my degree, even though I am learning a lot more as part of the STP scheme. Good communication, team working, time management, attention to detail are skills I use daily.

All Trainee Clinical Scientist training routes are now through the National STP scheme. This involves on the job training in your specialist department as well as completing an MSc part time. The whole training takes 3 years.

Embryology is continually changing field meaning the chance to learn and train in new techniques occur all the time.

Lab Technician Public Helath Wales (6 months)

Embryology Practitioner (8 months)

Get lab experience - any kind of lab and any kind of job. It will give you a number of skills that are transferable to Embryology.
Try and get as much IVF experience as you can, which can be really difficult - even for an hour is better than nothing. Read up on everything IVF before a meeting or interview. Know when the STP application deadlines are.
Don't give up, if you are determined Embryology is for you it will work out, even if it takes a little longer than you hoped.