Adithiyan Venkataramanan

Please tell us about your current role and employer

I currently work as a Senior Research Assistant at City St. Georges University of London, In Marie O' Brien's laboratory focusing on vaccine development for Group B streptococcal infections in pregnant women. City St. Georges particularly is an institution with a lush history of science and development, notably the laurelled Edward Jenner, who pioneered the cowpox and smallpox vaccines is a notable alumni of the institute!

What does a typical day in your current role look like?

A typical day in my role in the Marie O'Brien lab is highly dynamic and central to our research on Strep B infections. My primary focus is ensuring the laboratory operates seamlessly so that postdoctoral researchers and scientists can conduct their work without interruption. This involves a mix of operational and scientific duties. On the operational side, I manage essential tasks such as setting up lab spaces, overseeing inventory management, and training students and new staff on lab protocols and safety rules. On the scientific side, I actively assist senior staff with their experiments while also taking the lead on my own independent mini-projects, allowing me to directly contribute to our scientific objectives.

What was your journey to getting a job after graduating from Birmingham?

After graduating, I applied for roles through various online job boards, which is how I found my current position. During the interview process, I realised the weight that a degree from the University of Birmingham carries. Because UoB is widely recognised as a leading institution for research in immunology, the interview panel, and many of my current colleagues, held the University in very high regard. Having a Master's degree specialising in Immunology from Birmingham undoubtedly gave me a competitive edge!

Following a successful interview, the main logistical consideration was my right to work in the UK. Fortunately, I was able to utilise the two-year Graduate visa. Having this visa already in place was a significant advantage, as it gave me the flexibility to seamlessly accept and transition into a permanent, full-time role.

How do you feel the learning experience on your course helped to prepare you for your career?

The MSc Immunology and Immunotherapy course gave me solid foundation and practical experience. The specific modules on molecular mechanisms, steroid metabolism, and the infection directly apply to my work researching Strep B. The biggest help was the final research project which I completed in Cancer immunology in Dr Carmela De Santo's laboratory it gave me real hands-on lab time and taught me how a research environment operates. I had to manage my own experiments at Birmingham, I felt ready to jump into my current role where I handle my own projects, assist researchers, and train new staff on lab protocols.

What was your biggest achievement during your course? 

I got to improve my presentation skills, was able to use my Master's thesis and present the work at a conference in India after graduating and got the first prize for best paper. I was also able to join the Cancer Research UK campaigns ambassador for Birmingham, and advocate for better cancer care and help inform research policy after graduating.

What are your top tips for students graduating today?

The top tips I would give are simple :)

1. Always interact with your lecturers. Ask them about their work and their own career journeys. If you show enough enthusiasm, they might offer to guide you or even invite you to spend time in their lab, which is incredibly valuable experience.
2. Try to connect with alumni to explore the different paths people take in their careers.
3. Rejections are common. If it happens to you, try not to be disheartened and use it as motivation to keep applying. I personally sent out over 500 applications and faced more than 300 rejections before I landed this role. Those numbers are terrifying but very common. Most of the time, a rejection is not a reflection of your strength or ability. It is usually just a mismatch in requirements, visa rules, or other factors that have nothing to do with your skills. Just move on and try not to worry!
4. Finally, gain as much work experience as you can. Join societies, groups, and communities with like-minded people of a similar age so you can learn, grow, and experiment together.