Hi fellow Msc students!
I hope everyone is enjoying their subjects. Im enjoying my MSc which is pretty relaxed...almost like a BSc!!

I just wanted to post a few things and see what everyone else thinks.

1. I noticed some people saying that they become really tired when studying. I have a similar problem except im tired all the time and find it hard to get out of bed. When i check my BP its always 90/60 (sumwhere along that line). My joints also ache alot especially right arm and shoulder. Oh and im always breathless even after taking my asthma pump ( acquired asthma since last year) Whats wrong with me? Im worried that there might be something really wrong with me!!!!

2. I have been given a choice of project titles that i need to look at and choose to research. Im leaning towards one called "ID of regulators of gene expression in M. tuberculosis". It says moecular & microbioloigical techniques will be used......
I dont really have a lot of practise as my BSc hardly involved any practice and im worried that i wont be able to do anything and fail my project. I want to know how much support is given when carrying out an MSc project??

3. What are the job prospects like after completing an MSc??? I have been looking around at jobs but everyone wants experience which i dont have.

Ultimately I am confused about where im going and what im doing! Any advice on any of the questions would be greatly be appreciated.

1. Go to your GP and don't solicit medical advice from strangers on the net
2. Ask the supervisors of the projects in question. Be honest about the amount of experience you have and what you would hope to achieve.
3. Depends entirely on your field and what kind of work you want to go in to. What kind of jobs have you been looking at?

Sorry to be unhelpful but two of the questions you ask are beyond the scope of people here to answer, and the third doesn't give enough detail for us to help you.

Thanks for ur reply Hazyjane... I guess i was pretty vague ( in my defence it was my first thread/post!) so i'll try to be more specific now.
Apologies if im still being vague!

1. GP: I have been to the GP but he says everything is fine ( except for my newly acquired asthma). I didnt mean to solicit medical advcie form people but i just wanted to know if anyone in post grad end up feeling run down too. one girl on my course said today that she lacks motivation to turn up for lectures and that she constantly feels tired now. Just wondering if its some weird thing about being a post grad coz i used to be really perky as an undergrad!

2. I will take ur advice and speak to the supervisors.

3. Ultimately im not fussed about where I work. all I want to do is gain experience in Microbiology ( which is my BSc and MSc).
I know i dont want to end up working in a hospital as i find it tedious AND hate how everything is about saving money rather than helping people.
I have been searching for jobs as a lab assistant (bottom of the ladder) in Scientific companies and universities, as I know its unrealistic to aim higher until i gain relevant laboratory experience.


I dotn mind if who ever replies doesnt answer all three Qs...but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Your masters research can count as experience in that field. For micro depends what sort your interested in tbh, from medical to environmental its a big field! Training is part of most postgrads life be it PhD or masters, so you should get help.

Hey Kavsy,

With regards to your worries about lack of experience, I would say be honest with your supervisor about what you know, and then throw yourself into it! The whole point of a masters is to learn, and if you are working in a lab like any that I have been in there will be plenty of people around you willing to give you advice.
Basic molecular techniques etc are not that hard to pick up, especially as you don't have to learn to work any complicated machines! You really should stop worrying, I do a combined M.Res/ Phd course that is inter-disciplinary, completely out of my comfort zone and I have never had so much fun! Show some interest in what you are doing and most scientists are willing to talk to you for hours about what you need to know.

As for job prospects, I am afraid I have no idea! All I would say is use your masters time to get as many different techniques under your belt as possible :-)

Thnk u Fifi and rexy!

Its good to hear views from others within the same field!
Im hoping to get the TB project that i mentioned because that involved lots of moelcular techniques and microbiology stuff! I guess i need to make use of the time in the lab once i start my project!

Also about the health stuff.... Ive made an appt with the doc to have a check up ( he thinks my asthma may be causin me breathing problems so hes changing the type!)
I also went to advice centre in uni who want to apply for funding for me so i can buy software to help with typing just by speakin into it! My right shoulder leaves me in agony with constant use!

A lil advice to everyone...dont delay using university services as they can help you alot to ensure u get the best out of your uni life!!!

Hey,

The TB project sounds interesting :o) Don't worry about not having the experience with the techniques. My PhD involves molecular microbiology and I had very little experience in the lab before starting it but it wasn't a problem; most of the techniques are easy enough to pick up as long at you can follow instructions :o) When we get undergrad or masters students in our lab we don't expect them to know exactly what they are doing as they are here to learn so it's not a problem. Like the other posts have said just be straight with the project leader and see what they say.

Job prospects can be a tricky one. After uni I wanted to go into research in the field of infectious diseases/immunology yet all the jobs I was suited to were just low level lab tech jobs and it soon became apparent that to do any of the jobs that I liked the sound of I would need a PhD. Have you considered doing a PhD as firstly doing that would address your need for experience as you get 3-4 years lab experience and you also get a PhD which leaves you in good stead for futher employment :o)

Im not sure if you would be able to perform the repetitive tasks associated with molecular work in the lab if typing leaves you in agony....It will probably involve lots of pippetting of small volumes, and often causes repetitive strain injury to workers (me included :( ). Maybe you shopuld determine exactly what techniques you would need to perform before confirming a project.