As a diverse woman in subsea engineering, Allison Selman has experienced a range of highs and lows in her career. Here, she shares her journey towards professional success, personal fulfilment and supporting other women in STEMM. Riding the waves in an ocean-based career has been unexpected. Exploring Routes Transitioning to the offshore oil and gas … More Riding the Waves
Everyone’s “why” is different; defining your values and applying them to your career can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding. Bianca Lê describes her journey of finding purpose in her work through effective altruism and cellular agriculture. In the second year of my PhD, I was beginning to feel very overwhelmed by all the major problems in … More Finding Purpose in a New Field
In any STEMM field, it is essential to engage the public - this is particularly true in the realm of environmental sustainability. We asked Julia Landford, Founding Director of NatureArt Lab, a series of questions relating to her career journey and the relevance of art in the world of science. What is NatureArt Lab? NatureArt … More Blending the Worlds of Art and Science
There are few career changes as great as that from science to law - Professor Dianne Nicol has not only made the transition, but discovered a new passion and drive. I started my research career as a cell biologist, examining the development of the nervous system in simple organisms. This was at a time when … More From Science to Law: Discovering New Drive
I studied science at University because I was good at science and I liked it. Undergrad, Honours, PhD, Postdoc … I was following the traditional pathway to a successful research career because studying science was fun … until it stopped being fun. As a postdoc I realised that I loved thinking and learning about science, … More Life is like a box of chocolates
Dream. Do. Role models. Self-confidence. Share. I love science and at a young age I’ve always dreamed to go behind the scenes of the life of a researcher. It wasn’t until I was given a great opportunity to join a one-year work experience program at either an academic or private institute, which was offered during … More A post-doctoral scientist’s 5-step guide for emerging women scientists
International mobility is regarded as a critical step in career progression for a successful researcher. I spent 10 years establishing a career, completing a PhD at University College London followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Edinburgh. I had a strong and diverse scientific network in the UK, Europe, and America, yet upon returning … More Once you’ve left can you really break back in?
I was speaking to my friend’s daughter aged 7 and she asked me, ‘What do you do? I replied I am a Scientist/Engineer. With so much surprise and disbelief, she said, ‘That’s not true and can’t be…’ Taken aback, I asked her ‘why are you so sure?’ Then in response she replied, ‘because most of … More Women in the rational world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
At 11:05am on Monday 12th August, my phone rang. Palo Alto, CA, United States – the location of the caller – this is it… Butterflies in my stomach, I steadied my hand enough to swipe to answer. “Hello, Brooke speaking?” The start of a life-changing phone call. John Hennessy, co-founder of the scholarship and former … More Pursuing the Dream of a Career in Engineering
I am often asked to discuss negotiation tips and traps that I have learned during my journey from post-doctoral scientist to Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Certara. Is it really 30 years since I finished my PhD? Negotiation is analogous to a game of chess, where experts plan several moves ahead and … More The Art of Negotiation