Essential Internship Programme

Opportunities for exceptional graduate, post-graduate scientists/technologists to gain experience and exposure to the commercial marketplace. Are you:

• Strongly grounded in some aspect of science and technology, but have limited business experience?
• Looking for a springboard into the commercial world?
• Interested in gaining a business education, learning about how venture capital investing and building exceptional technology businesses really works?
• A highly motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and hard-working team-player?

If you are a 'yes' to these questions, then the Essential Internship Programme is for you. For further information and method of application please review this PDF document.

Experiences

Research associates are always invited to write about their time at Library House. All such submissions are posted as individual profiles. In the list, you should find people whose background and perspective resonate with your own.

This list will continue to increase over time.

A newly-qualified chemical engineer from South Africa commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"Prior to joining Library House I was a newly qualified Chemical Engineer... most likely on my way to industry. I came to Cambridge from Johannesburg, South Africa, to join my wife who was completing her studies, and I joined Library House shortly after its launch. Through working at Library House I was introduced to and subsequently joined a High-Tech start-up on a part-time basis, an opportunity that will reveal itself to most Library House employees. I had excellent experiences of the ups and downs associated with this sector. I then joined British Titanium, another start-up, on a full-time basis after researching the company for the Library House database. Partly due to the lateral thinking skills developed at Library House, I reverse engineered British Titanium technology to create a process to make oxygen from lunar soil. British Titanium is presently developing this technology after securing a multimillion dollar contract with NASA.

Library House is a treasure trove of highly skilled and dynamic people, from the researchers to the directors. It would be difficult to visit and not be introduced to an interesting idea, business concept or uniquely compelling story along the way. Library House has a diversity of staff and skills that allows one to plunge into a highly creative setting, with the best ideas from all possible cultures and backgrounds, all contained on the top floor of an attractive building in Cambridge.

Working as a Library House researcher allowed me an opportunity for close-up and in-depth study of the dynamics of high technology companies. The uniqueness of Library House activities helped me with the development of several practical skills, skills not taught in either a scientific or financial degree, yet encompassing the synergy of both disciplines."

A recent PhD student commented on her Library House experience as follows:

"During my PhD in Protein Folding (Dept of Chemistry, Cambridge University), I took part in a Biotechnology Business Competition that opened up my eyes to the business side of science. Working at Library House allowed me to meet influential members of the Cambridge Biotech community, and regularly see new companies pitch for their next investment round. I quickly became aware of the latest issues facing the Biotech industry and was involved in writing a report profiling the top UK candidates for flotation. I was also involved in a consulting project for a large, multi-national company.

Library House gave me an insight into the business world. It allowed me to use my researching skills in new areas and gave me up-to-date and relevant experiences to add to my CV. I moved on to be a Business Analyst at ZS Associates, a management consulting firm that works with clients from the pharmaceutical industry."

A graduate engineer commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"Being just another graduate engineer trying to switch to the financial/business world, I was clueless as to how I get there or as to what "there" is. Library House was instrumental in two ways. Firstly, in a manner comparable to an entrepreneur launching a business, it allowed me to use my technical background to gain core operational understanding of technology businesses and from there gradually develop an insight into the "outer shells" of management and finance that enable the successful delivery of new technologies to the market. Secondly, the people of Library House were extremely open, supportive and professional in offering me structured training, exposure to the industry and most importantly, the "space" to take on as much responsibility as I desired. I can comfortably say that getting my current job as a technology fund manager in the City would simply have been impossible without Library House.

Library House is certainly a unique and extremely dynamic environment, a small company with a surprisingly big culture. If you opt to make the most of your time there, I guarantee you won't regret it. "

A recent Computer Scientist graduate commented on his Library House experience as follows:

I graduated from Cambridge with a head full of technology expertise, but like many of my contemporaries I wanted to apply it to making money in the real world. Discovering Library House presented me with a unique opportunity to jump straight into the cutting edge of business. I would strongly recommend the company to anyone who was in my position and wants to be one of those industry leaders over the course of their career."

A recent PhD (Mechanical Engineering) commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"I joined Library House at the crucial moment of completing my PhD, when radical decisions on my next career step were my great concern. No literature could have given me such an insightful lesson of how technology and business meet in the process of transforming an innovative concept into a product. I fully benefit from that lesson in my new role as a technical consultant."

A recent PhD. (Experimental Nuclear Physics) from the University of Birmingham commented on her Library House experience as follows:

My time at Library House has been a positive stepping stone, as it has helped to consolidate the skills I acquired during my academic career, and apply them in a commercial environment, thus enabling me to broaden my horizons and gain some business, financial and managerial experiences. I have successfully moved onto the Institute of Physics."

A recent PhD (Clinical Biochemistry) commented on her Library House experience as follows:

"During my PhD programme at Cambridge University, I became very interested in the commercialisation of science, particularly technology transfer. Many recent science graduates making the transition from academia to business find that lack of commercial experience is the major stumbling block. My work at Library House was really fun and developed my commercial awareness and insight into issues faced by investors and entrepreneurs. The skills and experience I acquired helped me qualify for a position as a business development manager at UCL Biomedica plc, and I am sure they will continue to be useful there and afterwards."

A recent PhD (Materials Science and Physics) commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"During my time at Library House I feel that I have learnt a great deal in a short space of time. Given the varied nature of the companies you research, you are always likely to find something of interest to you. I was pleased to attain work experience in a proper job for the first time where I had actual responsibilities and felt like a valued member of the company; invaluable experience I can take into my next job at Atos Consulting."

A recent Engineering graduate commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"Having had quite an 'unconventional' career history (for an engineering graduate at least), I found my time at Library House most beneficial. The people in the company were most helpful in helping me look into careers, giving me advice and feedback. It opened my eyes to potential careers, and allowed me to develop new skills. I believe/hope that my time has been a good 'stepping stone', to start a career in business development/marketing."

A recent PhD (Neurobiology) commented on her Library House experience as follows:

"Library House was the stepping stone I needed to move on from science into the commercial world. It provided me with invaluable basic business concepts and helped improve my communication skills. Through the opportunities I had of working in projects for external clients it also provided me with a 'test drive' of what it would be like working in consultancy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Library House and recommend it for those who feel the need to bridge the gap between their subject and business."

A recent Engineering graduate commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"After a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds, I spent some time travelling and working in industry before joining Library House. My time at Library House gave me a fascinating insight into the world of business and finance, and has left me well equipped to start my own business."

A recent PhD (Genetics) commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"Having completed a PhD in Genetics, I decided to leave academic research to gain some business experience. My aim was to integrate the scientific skills I had gained during my PhD with new-found commercial knowledge.

My five months at Library House gave me an invaluable insight into the commercial application of technology, the essential qualities required by start-up companies to be successful and the venture capital industry in general. Above all, I was privileged to contribute to the growth of this dynamic start-up and meet a diverse range of highly-accomplished individuals including investors, entrepreneurs and industry gurus.

Library House has proven to be a great platform for my transition from academic science to business. I believe that the knowledge and contacts I have gained through Library House will be useful both when I join Accenture as a business consultant next year and in the long term.

I feel that working at Library House would be an excellent opportunity for self-motivated science graduates who are keen to learn about business and willing to take the initiative to contribute and interact."

A recent PhD (Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair) commented on his Library House experience as follows:

"Library House was a valuable experience for me for several reasons, but I will limit myself to discussing the most important three here.

The most valuable thing Library House taught me was how to use a phone. In my entire PhD I had called maybe two other leading scientists to discuss their ideas, and even this took some nerve; the majority of research was conducted in libraries. However, within weeks of arriving at Library House I was calling a dozen CEOs a week, negotiating my way past secretaries and extracting useful information from (often reluctant) sources. More importantly, I learnt a lot about the motives and variety of people involved in business, and how to tailor my approach to get the most out of all of them. I learnt that people can ignore emails, letters and indirect communication, but they can't ignore you on the phone. I learned the value of persistence and persuasion, and how you can obtain more from a five-minute conversation than from a day of painstaking research if you ask the right questions. Above all, I learned how to sell - how to sell Library House to people who'd never heard of it, how to hook people and get them interested.

In addition, Library House positions itself as a community of investors, and provided lots of opportunities for networking. Library House events attract entrepreneurs, business angels, venture capitalists, lawyers, accountants, deal-makers, policy wonks, think tank representatives, even academics. The opportunities are informal and pressure-free, and have been used by other researchers as a way to develop contacts and insights into a second career. I used it as a way to meet commercially-minded scientists in order to understand how they manage to move between academic, clinical, and commercial environments. I still have a stack of cards from people I have met at Library House events, people I would never have met had I stayed in a lab environment.

Finally, Library House taught me a lot about how to run challenging projects on tight deadlines. Academia has until recently perceived itself as having the luxury of time, with indefinite timelines and unclear final objectives. In contrast, I learned how database services can be used to co-ordinate people and track research progress, I learned the value of understanding small group dynamics and how people can be managed to deliver a defined goal on time. I learned how forethought and an organised, systemised approach can reduce time and expense. I consider these skills incredibly transferable to any profession and expect them to improve the efficiency of research management.

I would also add that the short period of employment in a dynamic, fast-moving company was a welcome break from an often erratic academic environment. The transition (escape?) was aided immensely by the other researchers, often very intelligent, early-career scientists and engineers from several disciplines who were capable of academic success but were also interested in a broader perspective than academia had to offer. The differences between the academic and commercial working environments were often under discussion over beers at the end of the week, and I think for many it was a useful staging ground to evaluate the merits and weaknesses of different career options."