• Question: How do you feel about the direction your careers have taken you? Are you surprised? Were your families supportive? (Does this count as three questions?)

    Asked by Kat to Anna, James, Joe, Leonie, Olivia on 11 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Joe Spencer

      Joe Spencer answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Kat,
      My career has changed direction since starting uni, I dind’t always want to be a scientist, but now i’ve got a taste for it I want more, it’s so rewarding and fun. I’ve had lot’s of support from my family, even tho I can’t always explain what i do, because it’s complicated. They still are proud and excited for me that I’m making a difference.

    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi Kat,

      I am over the moon with the path my career has taken. When I first went to University I didn’t think I was clever enough to do a PhD, but instead I ended up doing one, and getting a research job in science that I love doing. I have worked really hard, but I have also been pretty lucky.

      I guess the biggest surprise is that I have drifted so far from my starting degree of Geology into climate modelling present day Antarctic sea ice. It is a huge change in the science I have done, but it is also why it is so great to be in science, because it is so varied.

      My family have always backed me to do what I want, especially as I left home at just shy of 19 and never really moved back, living in Edinburgh, Leeds and now Cambridge. My family being in Liverpool. I’m sure they would prefer me to be closer but they want me to have the best in my life. My fiancee is also very supportive, especially with the fact my work forces me to move around, she is a student nurse in Leeds and I left to move to Cambridge and she couldn’t come, but she backs me and supports me, so it is really helpful (she does want me to find a permament job after this though, so we can settle down somewhere!)

      Technically, you asked four questions 😉

    • Photo: Leonie Oostwoud Wijdenes

      Leonie Oostwoud Wijdenes answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      I’m very happy with my career, although I (nor my parents) never thought that I would become a scientist. In high school I used to think that science was boring, and in university I thought I wasn’t smart enough to do a PhD. My parents thought I would end up working with people. But once I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in science, everyone was very supportive and proud of me for trying. My boyfriend even resigned from his job in the Netherlands and found a new one in London so we could move there together!

    • Photo: Anna Ashton

      Anna Ashton answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Yeah I’m pretty surprised, I never would’ve imagined I’d be doing a PhD now when I was at school! I liked science but didn’t know I’d follow it this far.

      I’m very happy that I’m training to being a scientist though, I think I wanted to do this all along I just didn’t realise it before!

      My family have always been pretty supportive, my parents always encouraged me to take up any opportunities that came my way, like the option of doing a Year in Industry as part of my degree, so they probably helped me get to where I am today.

      (And maybe 🙂 but they’re good questions and you can ask as many as you like!)

    • Photo: Olivia Lynes

      Olivia Lynes answered on 12 Mar 2015:

      Hi Kat,

      I’m quite surprised, my PhD is actually based in the bit of my degree I disliked the most. It just goes to show that even if you dislike something it will be useful at some point.

      I also thought I would end up in a lab but instead I do all of my work theoretically so no dangerous explosions in my day.

      My family was supportive yes, but I think they hope I’ll do something with a bit more job stability after my PhD.

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