hey, hello, hi!
This weeks #WISW/#WomeninSTEMWednesday is the amazingly inspiring Laura who is a research assistant!
Hey! I am Laura, I’m 23 years old from Dorset, now living in London! I am a current research assistant at Royal Holloway University researching contemporary meteorological interactions with physical and chemical properties in lakes. And also, how we can use reconstructions of past climates to deepen our understanding on the current climate system… basically all things climate! I am also preparing to begin my PhD in September.
What is your PhD going to involve?
I’ll be spending the next three and a half years looking at geochemical data from a high-resolution lake core which provides information about the climate and environment for the last 10 thousand years. With this data I’ll be reconstructing climate in the past and running a model to use this information to help predict climate variability in the future.
What were you interested in at school, and why?
I have always been interested in science, in particular chemistry, but I was never great at maths, so I found myself leaning more towards geography as it had some science, but without the numbers. I remember being really intrigued learning about the climate system during A-Level Geography which eventually led me to undertake my BSc in Geography, focussing on climate.
Do you think outside interests/hobbies play an important role in encouraging more girls into STEM?
Personally, my interests outside of work are completely unrelated to my STEM career. I am very ‘girly’ I love going shopping, going to the beach, going for drinks etc… all things that stereotypically are not associated with a scientist. However, if anything this has made me even more motivated to be the best scientist I can be and fight the stereotype surrounding STEM.
What pathway did you take to get into your job?
I completed my BSc in Geography, and my MSc in Quaternary Science both at Royal Holloway University of London. I was very fortunate during my MSc to be given the opportunity to complete a dissertation with my current research team, then after handing my thesis in, my supervisor wanted to continue my work so employed me for the period between my MSc and my PhD starting one year later.
What’s your favourite thing about your job and why?
I really like being part of an active research team, I love hearing and observing what other scientists are doing. Especially working at a university, you get to see lots of different projects and take part in exciting science conversations.
What do you find most challenging about your job and why?
Imposter syndrome. I am always in doubt of my own work, my progress and everything really. I do think this is very common in this industry, but I find myself continuously comparing myself to others within academia, both with people my age, but also with people further along in their career.
What does your day-to-day life look like while at work?
With this job, every day is different. One day I will be travelling to a lake to collect water samples from a boat, then the next running analytical chemical techniques, and the next analysing climate data and applying statistical tests. That is definitely the best thing about this job, you are never get the chance to be bored.
If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
I think ultimately one thing I would change is the number of jobs available… I know this is not probably what this question is about, but I would love for more people interested in STEM to be given the opportunity to work in the lab, its so fun and great experience. But sadly, there really are not many accessible jobs at an entry level.
Have you ever felt your gender has influenced the opportunities you’ve been offered and/or experienced so far?
I don’t think that my gender has influenced any opportunities so far, I am very fortunate that the department I am in are really well mixed and I haven’t seen or experienced any bias. However, what I will say is that comments made in the past about my gender and the career I am taking have motivated me even more to be at the stage and in the career that I am today.
What advice would you give to young girls who are interested in pursuing a STEM career?
One thing I would advise young girls who want to get into a STEM career is to be open to any, and every opportunity you are given. Whether this be for a weeklong research position, a job washing up in a lab, or even carrying fieldwork equipment. Anything and everything you do will give you more experience and allow you to build confidence to pursue a future STEM career.
Okay, first things first, I am soooo glad you mentioned enjoying things outside the world of STEM. It’s so important to change those stereotypes surrounding girls in STEM – I love nothing more than getting dressed up and going for cocktails!
Also it’s so important to highlight that not all STEM sectors are heavily male dominated. While my course as a whole (including Mechanical Engineering) was mostly guys, when we split off into Medical Engineers there was actually a really good mix! It’s very easy to get caught up in generalised views about STEM but it’s refreshing to hear there are sectors that see a mix!
I hadn’t really heard of research assistant positions before applying for PhDs myself but it sounds like a really great way of gaining valuable hands on experience in your field of research! Definitely something a lot of people would benefit from.
I love that you’ve mentioned wishing there was more entry level job roles so more people could get experience within a lab !! It’s so frustrating that everything within a research role relies so heavily on funding etc so jobs become so competitive. But the best place to learn about a subject is definitely within the lab!
Also, Imposter Syndrome is something basically everyone I speak to suffers with. I’ve recently done a blog post all about it with tips on how to overcome it, if anyone wants to check it out!
Hearing about your research has been so interesting Laura and I hope everyone else has found it just as interesting!! Thank you for sharing!
All my love, Meg x
Girls Who STEM 