The down side is that these places tend to have a high degree of turn over, and most gigs are on ‘soft’ (eg. grant) money which can ‘run out’. If you can get past that part, however, a lab gig can be a way into other areas once you’re established.

Although most Universities’ staff are unionized, if you’re able to last a year in a casual gig, usually the gig usually becomes re-classified from casual to ‘appointed’ which would make the staffer able to move around in the organization.

Good luck with the process!

Like I say, it’s all plans and speculation at the moment – it could be months, or (much more likely) it could be years – but if we don’t try I’ve got a feeling we’ll regret it later on in life.

It’s something me and sian have spoke about to. I am in the process of heading to uni to obtain a degree. So I am attacking at a slightly different angle to yourself. Who knows one day we may all be out there!