in-Q.Y.R.E. - in QIMR Year11/12 student Research ExperienceCLOSED FOR 2008

Are you thinking of a career in science and interested in medical research?

Each year QIMR hosts excelling high school science students during their work experience week.

Students may spend between 1-4 days in one laboratory or spend a day or two in different laboratories in the Institute.

********ALL APPLICATIONS CLOSED FOR 2008 till end of FEBRUARY 2009*********

STEP 1 - Is QIMR the work placement for you?

You will be asked to fill in an "Expression of Interest" form.
This form will not automatically qualify you for placement, but is essential for us to determine whether you are keen and suitable to apply to be placed at QIMR. You can submit it by email [ press "Submit" button] to the High School Work Experience Coordinator[HSWE] at QIMR, or print and mail to:

High School Work Experience Coordinator
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
PO Royal Brisbane Hospital
Herston 4029
Queensland

STEP 2 - Apply for a lab placement

If a placement is available, the HSWE Coordinator will email you an application form.
At this point you should finalize your schools work experience agreement forms and when signed, send them to him by ordinary mail.

STEP 3 - Lab placement finalized

The HSWE Coordinator will email you and confirm your placement by email after co-signing the schools' work experience agreement.

STEP 4 - Coming to QIMR

• Attendance: Hours 9.30-3pm. Morning tea ~ 10.30am, Lunch ~ 1pm.
• Dress regulations: Casual smart, with closed-in shoes
• Reception: B floor, Bancroft Centre. Introduce yourself and mention your lab and lab supervisor
• Register: Every day: sign in, obtain a visitors badge, and return badge as you leave each day
• Transport: Northern Busway directly across the road from QIMR. Train stations are Bowen Hills or Brunswick St and are only a 10-15min walk. Storage areas for bicycle commuters are near reception.
• Canteen: QIMR has a canteen, drinks and candy machine. Fridges are provided on each floor for the use of staff and students.
• Prompt: Respect the time given to you by the scientists, be prompt or communicate if you will be late on arrival

STEP 5 - In the Lab at QIMR

You will need to fill out your induction form on the first day.
This will check that you understand lab safety procedures prior to being in a research lab.

NB. High School students at QIMR are NOT to work with any infectious material, their own blood, tissue or DNA.

You will be given a certificate of your work involvement at QIMR on your last day.

What you need to know

The voluntary QIMR High School Work Experience Coordinator can be contacted by email: workexperience@qimr.edu.au

• Placement at QIMR will be from 9.30am - 3pm for up to four working days
• There are official work experience agreements that cover your work experience in the work force. These agreements cover insurance among other issues.
  Students will not be allowed to participate in any lab experience without these signed agreement forms.
  
• Students are not allowed to work on their own blood or DNA whilst at QIMR.
• Students will register at the reception desk on B floor of the Bancroft Centre and sign the visitors book. You will be issued with a visitor's badge and a representative of your host laboratory will be called to collect you.
  You need to return your badge to reception at the end of each day and pick it up the following morning so we know that you are in the building.
• You will be provided with all of the necessary protective clothing and equipment to work in our PC2 laboratories but make sure you wear closed shoes and comfortable, smart casual clothes.
  Students are not permitted to work with radiochemicals, enter "hot" rooms or PC3 rooms. However, you can watch someone working in these rooms from the corridor.
• QIMR has it's own canteen and lunch/refreshment areas. Students are encouraged to bring their own morning tea and lunch and to mix with QIMR staff during break time. We usually have morning tea at 10.30 am and lunch around 1 pm in the E floor Bancroft Centre common rooms. Eating or drinking in laboratories is not allowed.
• If time permits read some of the many posters hanging outside the laboratories. Do not be afraid to ask questions relating to anything that interests you.
• One of your teachers may plan to visit you at QIMR. This can be arranged through reception, or your host laboratory and your teacher can obtain a parking permit for a 30 minute stay in designated QIMR parking spaces from reception in the Bancroft Building(reception ph: 33620131).
• QIMR reserves the right to cancel any lab placement at any time.

Comments from past work experience students

Jodi Challacombe (Jan 2001)

I first came to QIMR in grade twelve (1997), from Grace Lutheran College in Redcliffe for work experience, with a keen interest in science. I have learnt everything from basic pipetting to extracting active substances from homogenous plant material, and the interactions of science and community. I loved Medical Research so much, I found myself volunteering to return the next school holidays and the holidays after that, and the holidays after that, etc. I have now been at QIMR for almost three years. I am currently employed as a Scientific Officer on a permanent part-time basis, and at the same time, have studied for my Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education degrees, majoring in Biotechnology, with Honours. My work at QIMR has been extremely valuable and rewarding, giving me the skills and knowledge to advance and achieve in this exceptional career field.

Please Note: This page is for senior high school students only. We do not have an official programme for work experience other than for high school biology students resident in Australia.