Imperial vs UCL for work or study

I've just been offered a research position at Imperial College. It's a great position, that pays well, and I think I would really enjoy the working environment.
However I have a couple of interviews with UCL, one of which I'm particularly excited about. The pay is a bit higher, the campus is lovely, and the building (the Cruciform) I would be working in is absolutely stunning.
I've told Imperial that I'm very keen to accept their offer, however I have an interview on Friday for a position that I want to find out more about.

So, I was wondering if anyone on here has either worked for or studied under either school. I will mostly likely do a Ph.D. with whichever school I end up working for, so I want to take that into account as well.

I can't answer your question but congratulations! I envy you.

Is your "research position" a teaching post? Without a PhD?

Thanks! It's nice, but I'm not sure I appreciate it as much, with everything being so foreign... For example, I bring up the fact that I am being offered this job and people are impressed... but all I can think of is the awful 70's communistic tower block the lab is in. I don't know if it's being silly or shallow to want to work in an attractive environment.

No, it's a job as a research assistant. While I doubt in science there would be much (any) opportunity to teach without a PhD, my husband has the opportunity to teach at his old university (part time) with just his BA. He graduated with a first, at the very top of his class, and is particularly good friends with one of his professors... So I guess it does happen.

Thanks! It's nice, but I'm not sure I appreciate it as much, with everything being so foreign... For example, I bring up the fact that I am being offered this job and people are impressed... but all I can think of is the awful 70's communistic tower block the lab is in. I don't know if it's being silly or shallow to want to work in an attractive environment.

I hear you on the 70's tower block... my undergrad department was an ugly 7-storey building located at the top of a hill... not the most pleasant place to work in!

No, it's a job as a research assistant. While I doubt in science there would be much (any) opportunity to teach without a PhD, my husband has the opportunity to teach at his old university (part time) with just his BA. He graduated with a first, at the very top of his class, and is particularly good friends with one of his professors... So I guess it does happen.

That's interesting because all the research assistant jobs I've seen advertised lately have required at least a PhD and often further post-doc research experience too! I guess it all depends on the research area and university though.

I hear you on the 70's tower block... my undergrad department was an ugly 7-storey building with located at the top of a hill... not the most pleasant place to work in!

Lovely! Got to love science!
Imperial:
UCL:

That's interesting because all the research assistant jobs I've seen advertised lately have required at least a PhD and often further post-doc research experience too! I guess it all depends on the research area and university though.

Really? Yeah, usually in biological science it's the research associate positions that require the PhD. Anything from research tech-research assistant is usually just a BSc or masters with some experience. The salary thing seems to not have much bearing on the title hierarchy as well because I've applied for research tech posts that start at £30, senior research tech posts that start at £25, and research assistant posts that start at £24!

Imperial probably just pips UCL in terms of academic reputation but if that's not important to you,  pick whichever one you feel more comfortable with and is offering you the best deal.

Really? Yeah, usually in biological science it's the research associate positions that require the PhD. Anything from research tech-research assistant is usually just a BSc or masters with some experience. The salary thing seems to not have much bearing on the title hierarchy as well because I've applied for research tech posts that start at £30, senior research tech posts that start at £25, and research assistant posts that start at £24!

Maybe I've misread a couple of 'associate' positions for 'assistant'  , although I'm pretty sure I saw at least one that said 'assistant' but required a PhD... I remember reading the advert, thinking that it would be ideal and then getting to the end of the job description and realising that I would need a PhD (I'm currently a PhD student, but I'm having second thoughts about continuing with the degree at the moment, so I've been doing some job listing searches)!

Yeah, the salaries can be strange - I remember my masters supervisor at Bristol last year talking about how the post-doc researchers were earning more than the lecturers! Apparently there was some loophole with the salary bands that allowed the post-docs to be eligible for the higher band because the lowest salary band didn't even require a PhD (weird)... so you had post-docs earning £30K and lecturers earning around £27K or so  .

Imperial probably just pips UCL in terms of academic reputation but if that's not important to you,  pick whichever one you feel more comfortable with and is offering you the best deal.

Yeah I agree - I'd go with the department that is most suited to you personally. Last year, my department was located in one of the most well-known buildings at the university (Cambridge-style), but my actual office was in the basement, and outside the window was a lovely view of the bike sheds and a 3-storey-high brick wall! So at the end of the day, it didn't really matter that the exterior of the building was gorgeous, because we never even saw it during the day!

That's a fantastic choice to have to make--I don't think you could go wrong with either of them. That said, in science so much boils down to the particular research group and combination of people that you have to work with. I'd agree with Britwife that you should take the one that feels the most comfortable.

I hear you on the hideous building, though--I currently work in one. But the worst was the old building at my last job. I'll have to see if I have a picture around somewhere. Fortunately they built a new one and knocked the eyesore down a few months after I started!

I'd love to hear whether the UCL building is as nice inside as out, or if it's just a typical dreary science building!

Maybe I've misread a couple of 'associate' positions for 'assistant'  , although I'm pretty sure I saw at least one that said 'assistant' but required a PhD... I remember reading the advert, thinking that it would be ideal and then getting to the end of the job description and realising that I would need a PhD (I'm currently a PhD student, but I'm having second thoughts about continuing with the degree at the moment, so I've been doing some job listing searches)!

In my experience, physics has very little in terms of research positions that don't require a PhD.

The first year is the worst, really, so if you can survive that you should be ok. Feel free to PM me if you'd like--I've been there!

The first year is the worst, really, so if you can survive that you should be ok. Feel free to PM me if you'd like--I've been there!

Thank you - I might just do that . I'm home in England for a visit and am feeling pretty confused about the whole thing at the moment - it would be great to get some help/advice from someone who's been through it before .

Britwife.. oh that is a lovely building... I guess I don't really except the interior to be amazing, but it would be nice to have a stroll around a nice campus.. have lunch outside on the common when the days are nice.. rather than just dreary concrete.

I have seen research assistant positions listed as needing a PhD, but it's not very common. And I don't think I'm seen an associate post that didn't need one.

Yes, the Imperial group seems like a really nice lab to working in. The PI is really young and down to earth... exactly what I've been looking for (especially after my last PI). So it's more and more tempting.. but I just won't know until after I interview with UCL (and now I've got to go, just to pass the word on what the inside is like... maybe I'll sneak some photos while I'm there).

ksand24... That's really insane with the salaries. You definitely would not get that in the states!
Good luck with the decision about keeping with the degree.. my mother in law has her PhD in Physics from Reading, so if you have any questions...

OK, just back from the UCL interview.
Wow, that was probably the toughest interview of my life! It was pretty insane, a constant bombardment of questions, not letting me finish my sentences.... I have no idea how I did. I do, however, feel quite proud of myself for getting through it without breaking down!

The building itself is beautiful. The nicest/biggest labs I've seen so far. Vibrant part of town.

Good luck!