Support, community, and confidence: takeaways from a year in industry

Diya’s placement involved working with the Macaulay group on a project using single-cell genomics analysis in forensic science, focusing on Genome and Transcriptome sequencing, a multi-omic approach.

Whereas Stella pursued their interest in plants and fungi with the Hall Group - working on Gaeumannomyces tritici, the pathogen behind wheat take-all, and its close relative Gaeumannomyces hyphopodioides, an endophyte thought to provide wheat with take-all resistance.

Despite their different projects - both Diya and Stella developed new-found independence in bioinformatics - one of the key strengths of the Earlham Institute. 

‘‘I previously knew the importance of computational biology, but I didn’t think that it was for me. This year has built my confidence in bioinformatics, and so I would like to develop these skills further in my future studies/career.’’ said Diya. 

Year in Industry students are embedded within a busy research environment, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn in-situ working on active projects. 

“I loved how I was offered so many opportunities to discover my interests and the freedom for my project to evolve alongside this. I arrived at EI feeling slightly out of my depth in bioinformatics and big data, but this year has really turned that around. 

“Looking back to the start of the year, I can hardly believe how much I came to enjoy bioinformatics, which is a testament to how supportive and encouraging my supervisors have been throughout the year,”  added Stella.

Having both been unsure about whether pursuing a PhD was the right choice for them - Diya and Stella are now considering a PhD as part of their futures.

‘I had such an encouraging lab group and supportive supervisors, and I realised that it’s often the people who shape your experience as a PhD student. I now know what to look for in a PhD to make sure it’s the right choice.’’ said Diya.

‘‘This placement has opened my eyes to so many more new possibilities. The prospect of doing a PhD feels a lot more tangible now, and I might even get to publish some of my work from this year, which is something I’d never have dreamed of before starting,” said Stella.

However, it’s not just about the research - the community and engagement opportunities at the Earlham Institute are just as important to ignite collaboration and connection. With hands-on support from the Advanced Training Team and Research Faculty, Year in Industry students are welcomed and supported to join in all aspects of life at the Earlham Institute.

For Diya this included attending conferences and symposiums with present research posters and talks, as well as working with our Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility Committee (IDEA) and Earlham Student Body (ESB).

‘‘What I will miss the most about the Earlham Institute are the people and the sense of community, whether that’s through kitchen chats, office memes or lunchtime table football games. I think that the supportive and collaborative culture at EI is what allows ideas to flourish and drives innovative research,” said Diya.

Stella and Diya also embraced outreach activities, volunteering during the 2025 Norwich Science Festival and Pint of Science events.

‘‘The placement was so much more than just the project. I hadn’t expected there to be so much variety: I was able to join coastal field sampling trips, attend the Festival of Genomics and even presented my research poster at the Centre for Microbial Interactions Conference,” Stella reflected.

It can be daunting joining a new workplace as a student - however, Diya and Stella encourage future students to fully embrace the opportunity.

‘‘Make the most of all the opportunities available to you!  Go to seminars available to see what piques your interest. There are lots of training opportunities available on a wide range of topics — bioinformatics, communication skills, wet lab skills, to name a few,’’ Diya suggests.

“Whenever you feel out of your depth, stick with it. It’s a sign of the immense growth you’re experiencing, and it will be so worth it for the moment you look back and see just how far you’ve come since the start – it’s unbelievable. 

“The people around you are incredibly kind and generous and will be there to support you every step of the way. Lean into and learn from the wonderful community here across the research park, don’t let fear hold you back, and make the most of every minute,” adds Stella.