Crankstart Internship Experience: Ruth Arnold
Oxford student Ruth Arnold in an aerial photo of the Choco canopy, on an expedition day in the 2km long cable car at Mashpi Reserve. At this moment, Ruth had located a Choco Toucan in a Magnolia tree opposite the camera.
Third year Biology undergraduate at the University of Oxford, Ruth Arnold, has taken advantage of every opportunity available through the Crankstart Internship Programme. In this article, Ruth shares details about how the Careers Service and Internship Office team supported her from the first year at Oxford, describes her experiences on internships secured or funded through the programme, and shares advice for current Crankstart Scholars.
What services have you accessed through the Internship Office and Careers Service at the University of Oxford?
Over the course of my 3-year undergraduate degree in Biology, I have accessed a wide range of services through the Internship Office and Careers Service. This includes CV and personal statement assistance, careers and internship advice, and internship funding.
In first year, I was unsure of what to include on my CV and how to navigate writing a strong personal statement. I met with Fiona Whitehouse who was able to offer me lots of constructive feedback and encouragement. At the end of first year, I met with other members of the team to discuss internships in sustainability, conservation, and scientific research. Using the advice that I had received so far; I then completed a research internship at John Krebs Field station in Oxford with a supervisor in the Biology Department. I also completed a PADI open water diver course to supplement future work in marine biology.
In second year, I found and completed an internship in Ecuador, which was fully funded by the Crankstart internship grant and supported at various application stages by members of the Internship Office.
More recently, Josephine Allen has been fantastic at exploring options for my summer between third and fourth year.
I know what employers from different sectors might be looking for, and I am much better at analysing myself and how I could apply my approach to different problems.
How do you think these services developed your career aspirations, if at all?
Coming from a low-income background, I was apprehensive that I would be able to achieve what I wanted, especially as I have a scientific interest in tropical ecosystems and conservation in general. I also had limited abilities in application writing and interviewing, little work experience, as well as many personal concerns about funding.
The services mentioned above have greatly enhanced my career aspirations and have opened doors to work around the world, thanks to the fact they have addressed all these issues. I have much more confidence applying myself to different internships, and I have a richer understanding of that which is available to me. The skills and experience gained through the Careers Service have made me more employable and increased my confidence. I know what employers from different sectors might be looking for, and I am much better at analysing myself and how I could apply my approach to different problems. Year-on-year, the Internship Office has made the impossible possible. As a result, I am more ambitious and excited about careers after Oxford.
What Internship placements have you undertaken through the Crankstart Internship Programme? Could you tell us about your internship?
I have undertaken three internships through the Crankstart Internship Programme so far. One was advertised through the Crankstart Internship Programme (CIP) for which I applied, and the others were ones that I sourced for myself or was recommended.
The first internship, completed in September 2021, involved working in Jonathan Green’s lab at John Krebs Field Station, studying aggression in cichlid fish. I also completed a side project looking at a host-parasite model in slugs and mites. Since then, my work on slugs has been published, and my work on cichlids has contributed to the field of aggression. I learnt a great deal about animal ethics and husbandry, as well as the design and implementation of experimental studies in evolutionary biology.
In December 2021, I completed a virtual internship through the CIP, which involved research and consultancy for a reserve in South America. This lasted 2 weeks in December, in which I was data mining for an eco-school project, summarising my findings in a report proposing possible management models and approaches for school design.
Ruth trekking through the rainforest. This is a picture taken after a day of setting camera traps in the field, and it started pouring with rain.
In September 2022, I completed an internship in the Mashpi region of Ecuador (Choco rainforest), through links established in the previously completed CIP. This was an incredible opportunity to practice field work in a tropical environment. I worked on camera trap monitoring, butterfly rearing and care, species identification of myriad taxa, teaching, grant application writing, and newsletter creation. I also developed my fluency in Spanish through engaging daily with local communities. My knowledge of the natural world and the ways that it can be preserved in harmony with people was greatly improved. I was also able to learn from local farmers about their shifts to sustainable agro-ecological techniques. Together, all these experiences have shaped my desire to work in conservation, particularly with local communities.
The internships have improved my understanding of potential careers in Biology and have fanned the flame of my passions for the subject and its applications to the world.
How have these internships supported your career projections?
I have a much better idea of what I would like to do, and I know what I need to do to get there. Completing all my internships so far has helped pave the way for further research, both in marine and terrestrial ecology. Without the guidance and the financial assistance from the Internship Office, I would not have the experience that I do now. I would also be lacking valuable skills and the confidence to apply to roles post-degree.
Completing the open water PADI course has been an essential first step in marine biology. It has led to more opportunities in research diving: opportunities that would have been completely inaccessible to me otherwise. The internships have improved my understanding of potential careers in Biology and have fanned the flame of my passions for the subject and its applications to the world.
Doing a combination of work types – Oxford-based, online, and overseas – equips me as a strong candidate for future applications. For example, my experience with the virtual CIP helped me to obtain a role as a consultant in a development consultancy group, for which I am now co-president. All of the completed internships have also been very different to one another. As such, they have trained me to be flexible, innovative, and able to withstand a combination of pressures.
How easy has it been to obtain financial support through the Crankstart programme, and the team involved?
Firstly, the team have been brilliant. Fiona and Jo, particularly, have been very helpful and supportive of my case over the last few years. Without them, I would be very lost in the sea of potential internships, with little direction for personal statements, CVs, and interviews. I frequently have questions for them, and they are always ready to meet with me for a discussion. The team approaches me encouragingly and with a wonderfully critical edge (where desired), which has helped me to hone my applications and experiences. Responses are quick and their advice easy to follow. I am very grateful to the whole team, especially as they have supported me through a number of historical ups and downs associated with finances and imposter syndrome. The internship fund profoundly complements the Crankstart scholarship, which has allowed me to complete my degree to the best of my ability with minimised financial stress, and many more opportunities.
Obtaining financial support has been a straightforward process. Any queries regarding funding, particularly when I’ve sent off long and complex grant applications, have been addressed quickly. Revisions to applications have been simple, and I was supported by the team throughout the process. I have a lot of confidence for this coming summer as a result, as I know what I need to do and how to apply for funding. The financial support has allowed me to do work that I had only previously dreamed of. I never thought I’d be able to work in the rainforest, spend time developing professional skills in a wet lab, or learn to dive for marine biology. All of these things have been achieved with minimal stress because of the financial support.
I will be leaving Oxford a much stronger candidate for jobs, with a range of practical skills that can be applied immediately.
Is there any advice you would give to other Crankstart Scholars?
Oxford student Ruth proudly holding an owl-eyed butterfly (Ojo de bujo) inside the butterfly centre. This is one of the main species reared at the sanctuary and they are famous for their defensive owl markings.
My advice is simple: go for it!
Reach out to the Crankstart team and get involved in what you can. The Internship team are wonderful, and the funding almost too good to be true!
Immerse yourself in volunteering in Oxford (I worked a lot on access, especially with application help for state-school students), get stuck into the socials, and don’t hesitate to use the services available on the website. Of all the services that I’ve tried (application help, internship advice, and funding assistance) I have only had positive experiences. There are many more to explore, including an exciting mentor scheme. I am put at ease by the team no matter what I am going through, and they are always happy to help. I will be leaving Oxford a much stronger candidate for jobs, with a range of practical skills that can be applied immediately.
The internships are also a safe space for you to experiment with your interests before completing the degree. For me, they have opened a huge number of doors for research in ecology and conservation. As a passionate student with a broad range of interests, I needed all the help that I could get with work experience across sectors in order for me to find my niche. I am thankful that I started the process in first year as I have learnt so much about myself, the people around me, and the working world.
Before coming to Oxford, I was worried that my state-school background would make me an outsider, imobilised by my lack of experiences and financial incapabilities. Being a Crankstart scholar immediately removed these worries as I was able to exist unhindered alongside my academic and personal contemporaries. Immersing yourself in the benefits of the Crankstart scholarship reduces stress on many levels and allows you to grow, both personally and professionally, without the constraints that might otherwise exist in such a competitive academic climate.
