Graduate Employment

Many of our students who graduate from the University of Lincoln in an animal or equine course go on to find employment in a range of companies.

We love to hear what our former students are up to, and endeavour to keep this information up to date, to inform prospective students of the employment possibilities for animal sciences graduates, as well as to help former students to contact their classmates. lf you would like to be added to our alumni database, please email your details to ecampbell@lincoln.ac.uk

Jenny Brandham - BSc Equine Science

Jenny graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2007, with a BSC (Hons) in Equine Science.  She found a job on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme working as an Equine Researcher for an engineering company.

Jenny's career

Jenny is helping her employer to develop a technical system for measuring the performance of competition bred horses to help inform adjustments of workouts in order to maximize performance and welfare.  Her day to day role varies considerably, from carrying out experiments with racehorse trainers, the results of which she will then analyse back at the lab, to literature research, attending conferences and talking to suppliers.  Jenny has given lectures and demonstrations to vets, trainers and university students about her work, and has also been able to travel to various places on business including Austria, Utrecht and Dubai!

Jenny's experience of studying at Riseholme and the University of Lincoln

Jenny says, "Studying at Riseholme was great as you always felt that you were part of the community and not just another faceless student.  I was lucky to be exposed to many different experiences throughout my degree which has certainly increased my ability to find employment. Since graduating I have definitely developed as a more capable person, and I have learnt new skills and knowledge in areas which I would have never imagined. My knowledge has become more industry based and applicable to the real world but I have still maintained the connection with my core interests.

Jenny's future career plans

Jenny is keen to remain within the professional equine industry, and hopes to build on the experience she has gained so far.  Her work as a KTP Associate has enabled her to continue with her professional development in areas such as management, and she says: "I’m still toying with the idea of doing a PhD, but this would have to be close to my field of interest so I could feel completely committed to the work.  I find the environment of industry-based research and development fast-paced and very creative – an area which I’m keen to take and see developed in the equine world."

Jenny's advice if you are considering studying at the University of Lincoln

"My advice would be to come along to the open days, chat to the lecturers, ask as many questions as you can and see how it makes you feel.  Feeling comfortable and confident in the environment was certainly a factor which aided me in making the most of my degree time.  The Riseholme campus has developed in terms of its capabilities so much even in the last 2 years, which I really wish I’d had access to whilst studying, like the equine treadmill: I’m very envious of those that get to experience this, and I'd go back if I could!"

Teddy came all the way from Canada to study Equine Sports Science at the University of Lincoln.  His experiences are described in a recent article in "Horse Sport" magazine and offers an honest opinion to any prospective student looking to do an Animal/Equine Science Degree at the University of Lincoln.

Read the article (pdf) from Horse Sport magazine (with permission of the author)

Helen completed an assignment on Bile Bear Farming in China in her second year and was so moved by what she had found out about it, that she spent three months working as a bear manager volunteer at a rescue centre in Chengdu.  She was involved with making up each bear's medicated shakes, observing the bears' behaviour to establish causes of stereotypes, teaching the Chinese workers about looking after the bears, as well as many other general duties around the rescue centre.

Helen graduated in 2006, and landed her dream job working with sled dogs at Sweden's Axehandle Dog Sledding Adventure Centre where she trains and drives huskies, as well as looks after the tourists that visit.

The selection of pictures shows how the dogs are kept.  Emma says, "It's quite an unusual system but seems to work well. The dogs have enough freedom to move around and play with each other at the same time as reducing fights which is becoming an issue now all the girls are coming into season."

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v664/Ostfeld/?action=view&current=FeedingDogs.flv

Emma Banfield - BSc Equine Sports Science

Emma gained a First class degree when she graduated in 2003.  She started her undergraduate career studying a Nursing degree but after eighteen months decided that she would prefer to work with horses rather than people and transferred to study Equine Sports Science. Having looked at other universities she decided the Lincoln had the course which she wanted to study, as well as enable her to combine her studies with competing in British Eventing competitions with her horse “Chester”.

After completing her undergraduate studies she was accepted to undertake a PhD, also at Lincoln, but at the same time was offered a Research Internship with the Kentucky Equine Research in America. Luckily she was able defer her PhD for a year and gained valuable experience whilst in the USA. She started her PhD in September 2004 and her main area of work is based upon the myopathy, Equine Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (tying up) studying it at a cellular level, under the supervision of Dr. Elaine Campbell.

Natalie Simmons - BSc Animal Behaviour Science

Natalie joined us as a Higher National Diploma student and, following completion of this course, then completed the BSc in Animal Behaviour Science. Natalie worked as an education officer for The Humane Slaughter Association, a charity providing advice to stock-people and veterinarians on humane euthanasia of farm, zoo and laboratory animals, and now works with Cobb, an international poultry breeding company. 

Natalie's recent projects include providing training in the disposal of fallen stock using lessons learnt from the foot and mouth epidemic, and the development of a safe and welfare friendly means of culling sick poultry.

Natalie is a visiting lecturer to the University of Lincoln on our Animal Behaviour Science and Animal Management and Welfare courses, where she presents information on animal transport and slaughter, as well as advice on career prospects and charity work.

Humane Slaughter Association - http://www.hsa.org.uk/

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare - http://www.ufaw.org.uk/index.htm

Brigitte Manship - BSc Equine Science

Brigitte Manship, from the Alsace area of France, developed a computer based Tick Identification Key for her dissertation research project, which is featured on the University website.

Having received a 2:1 honours degree, she was accepted on the MSc in "Parasitology and Vector Biology" at the University of Manchester.  She completed her final project on disease vector mosquito Aedes aegypti, and was subsequently offered a Leonard Studentship which enabled her to gain additional experience in another European lab, in Brigitte's case, the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, working on protozoan fish parasites. Brigitte has recently been offered a PhD studentship at the University of Kingston working on fish ectoparasites in the UK.

Richard Crafer - BSc Animal Behaviour Science

Richard was awarded a Nuffield Foundation Vacation Scholarship to study the incubation behaviour of birds. It has been known for many years that as egg size increases, so does the length of time required to incubate them (an ostrich takes 42 days to incubate its eggs whilst a humming birds takes only 16 Days), and scientists have used this knowledge to predict how long a bird should sit on its eggs. However, researchers have long recognised that many birds don't fit the pattern. For example, a chicken should sit on its eggs for 28 days, but in reality it only takes 21 days. By searching through published records Richard was able to find data on the incubation times of 1400 species of bird (about 10% of all known species). From this data, Richard discovered that different groups of bird have quite different incubation periods, irrespective of egg size. For example, toucans and kestrels lay similar sized eggs, yet toucan eggs hatch in about half the time. Richard presented his findings at the International Incubation & Fertilization Conference held at Lincoln University and is now researching into why different groups of bird have such different incubation patterns.

Cheryl Bone - BSc Equine Science

Every year 15 work placements are offered (for a maximum of 16 students) through The British Horseracing Board (BHB) Graduate Programme. These placements are located within organisations such as The British Horseracing Board, The Horseracing Betting Levy Board, The Jockey Club, The Racing Post, and Weatherbys.

Cheryl fought off competition to obtain the 2 month vacation placement at Darley Stud Management Co. LTD., one of Europe's most prestigious thoroughbred studs. As a result of this Cheryl has now taken up a full time post at Darley Racing where she is involved in the pre-training of Sheikh Mohammed's horses.

Sarah Haven - BSc Equine Science

Kentucky Equine Research Inc. (KER), primarily serve as a consultant to feed companies worldwide. Supplementing this, they maintain a research facility for studies into nutrition and exercise physiology. KER offer (12-18 month) research fellowship positions to students wanting to gain experience in equine nutrition and exercise physiology research. As a result, valuable experience in working horses on a high speed treadmill, experimental design and laboratory skills can be gained.

Sarah Haven is one of several students that was accepted for this year-long research fellowship, following which she worked for George Best Racing as a yard manager, then as a microbiologist for Southern Water.  Sarah has now obtained a PhD studentship on equine tendons from the Royal Veterinary College.

Kentucky Equine Research Inc
Research fellowship

Career destinations of our graduates