This summer, the Society welcomed Valeria Berkovskaya, a Micro-Placement student from City St Georges, University of London to work in the Governance team. The 4-week placement aims to give students real-life exposure to the business environment, and this is the third year that the Society has taken part in the scheme.  

During her time at the Society, Valeria analysed the results from the 2025 EDI Data survey and worked on a project to showcase women in senior roles in STEM, which was one of the themes from the 2024 EDI Data Survey feedback.

Hear more about Valeria’s time at the Society below:

“I was incredibly fortunate to be offered a placement at the Biochemical Society, where I had the chance to gain my first-ever professional experience. It was a true pleasure to meet my first manager, colleagues, and be part of a real working environment.

What initially drew me to the Biochemical Society was the role itself. The position of EDI Assistant immediately caught my interest, as I have always believed that Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are essential areas that deserve attention and action. Having the chance to contribute to this work was both meaningful and exciting for me. At the same time, the opportunity to step into the world of biochemistry, an area I had no prior experience in, was both challenging and intriguing.

During my placement, I worked on two main projects. The first involved analysing the results of the EDI Survey, comparing responses from 2024 and 2025. I uncovered key findings and presented my analysis to the EDI team at the end of my placement. The second part of my role focused on highlighting women in senior roles in STEM.

This initiative was inspired by survey feedback that revealed women in the sector felt underrepresented. As a response, I conducted interviews with accomplished women scientists, which I then turned into social media content and articles for The Biochemist, to help increase visibility and celebrate their inspiring journeys.

Now to the team—what an amazing group of people. The Biochemical Society team were incredibly supportive and made me feel welcomed from day one. Even within a short time, I had the opportunity to meet almost everyone, have meaningful conversations, and know that I could always reach out for guidance. A very special thank you goes to my manager, Sarah Taylor, who supported and guided me throughout the entire experience.

In conclusion, this placement has been truly wonderful, everything I imagined work should be like. You should love what you do, and at the Biochemical Society, that’s exactly how I felt.”

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