Kirsty Piotrowski
What is your current role and what does a typical week look like?
My role as Placement & Student Experience Officer is to support SLS students with securing BSc or MBio industrial placements for their year in industry and ensuring they have a great student experience, whether they鈥檙e studying or out on placement. A typical week will be quite varied depending on where we are at in the placement cycle, but can include advising on policies and process, overseeing placement compliance and administration, providing 1-2-1 placement advice appointments to students and working with the SLS Careers Consultant to run Careers & Placement workshops and information sessions. I may also be involved in supporting the Director of Student Experience with events and activities for students to help build their sense of community and belonging in SLS.
Which part of your role do you enjoy the most, and what are the biggest challenges?
I really enjoy working with students and supporting their development, feeling like you can make a difference to their time at university and seeing them develop in confidence and resilience. However, one of the biggest challenges can be getting students to engage with the non-compulsory activities we run to help them improve their employability prospects.
How has your education or roles previous to joining Life Sciences, informed your interests, and why did you choose this career direction?
I studied English Literature at University but didn鈥檛 really know what I wanted to do after graduating. After living and working in Canada for a year post graduation I ended up back in the UK working in recruitment for a few years, which then led to over 12 years working in HE developing and overseeing work related employability programmes and employer engagement initiatives.
What is your favourite place on campus and why?
The woods near Gibbett Hill campus 鈥� a great place to take a break and have a walk in nature when the weather allows!
What are your main interests or passions, outside of work?
I love spending time with my pets (2 cats and a dog) and being out in nature walking with my dog and husband, finishing off with a cheeky pint of real ale in a nice country pub! I鈥檓 also a keen reader and crafter and love to experiment with new crafts.
April 2026