| Personal details |
|---|
| Degree: | Statistics |
|
| School(s): | School of Mathematics and Statistics |
| Year of Graduation: | Jun-2006 |
| LinkedIn: | |
| National of: | United Kingdom |
| Employment details |
|---|
| Organisation: | The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) |
| Job title: | Risk Analyst |
| Occupational Sector: | Risk Management |
| What has been your route to getting your current position? |
|---|
After finishing my MSc in September 2006, I started working as an
actuary... and left one month later! I wanted to find a job that would
make better use of the statistical skills that I had acquired during my
degree, in particular the ecological statistics. I applied for my
position at FERA in November and started work in January 2007.
|
| What does your job involve ? |
|---|
Probabilistic modelling of the risks associated with pesticides use
and their effects on wildlife and humans. Developing software for
quantitative risk-benefit analysis of foods that contain both
contaminants and nutrients. Development of risk communication
techniques for policy-makers or non-statistical audiences.
|
| What are the best bits of your job ? |
|---|
I enjoy the challenge of finding creative ways to explain complex
ideas to non-technical audiences. I have also enjoyed the challenge of
learning new programming languages 'on the job'.
|
| Why were you successful? |
|---|
Enthusiastic, wrote application carefully and prepared well for interview.
|
| What skills/ knowledge from your degree have you found particularly helpful in this role? |
|---|
Statistical skills, organisational skills, presentational skills.
|
| What advice would you give to students wishing to follow the same path? |
|---|
Sometimes the work can feel quite isolating, especially when you're
working on small projects with only a few colleagues. Be sure to take
regular coffee breaks and get involved in other activities at work e.g.
sports or clubs.
We work 'flexi-time' at Fera, which is both a blessing and a curse!
Arriving late at the start of the day only means that you'll have to
stay later at the end of the day!
|
