Adam Marsh

What have you been doing since finishing your studies? 

I work as a management and strategy consultant within the life sciences industry (particularly pharma and digital health).

Wickenstones are a global, boutique consultancy supporting the life sciences industry with a particular focus on product and organisation structure, health economics and research, and market access, policy and communications.

As an Associate, I engage with our clients to help them develop and execute strategies to meet their aims, usually around the launch of new treatments (drugs and MedTech) into the healthcare system so they can help improve lives of patients around the world. This can include strategy work and landscape assessments, through the generation of evidence and onto go-to-market strategy and execution.
 

What experiences at Leeds do you think have particularly helped with your career?

I believe geology as a subject is a great preparation for working in virtually any technical field (such as life sciences) as it teaches the fundamentals of the scientific method, encourages a generalist understanding of several scientific fields (e.g. biology, chemistry and physics) and the importance of clear and contextual communication. These are all skills that I draw upon on a daily basis despite not having anything directly to do with Geology.
 

Why did you choose to study your particular course and why did you choose the University of Leeds?

As with many students, I chose the MSc in Structural Geology with Geophysics course with a view to joining the mining or petroleum industries. This particular course played off my strengths within physics and the areas of geology I found of most interest. Beyond this, the University of Leeds is a world-class institution and a leader in both the teaching and research of the Geological field.

What was the best aspect of your course?

At the time I particularly enjoyed the fieldwork. Being able to see the practical implications of the theory (particularly when you are considering the movement of millions of tonnes of rock) helps to put into perspective hard to grasp concepts. It also provided an excellent opportunity to visit some very beautiful parts of the world.

With hindsight, the structure of the assignment was by far the most useful aspect of the course. Technical writing, to a tight word/page limit and needing to convey information and recommendations concisely is an incredibly useful skillset almost regardless of where you end up taking your career.

What would you say to students thinking about studying your course?

I guess there are two lenses to look at the course through. Firstly, it is one of the best courses globally for Structural Geology and Geophysical interpretation. If your interest is going into academia or the mining or petroleum industries with this type of specialisation you will not do better.

More broadly, I think the skillsets instilled through Geology, and exemplified through this course, are incredibly transferable. As such, even if you do not wish to go into a Geology related field, or are not sure, this is an excellent course to study.