Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Most of my work is on the computer, so I spend my evenings playing the flute and my holidays in a tent. I always have chocolate in my bag!
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I live in Banbury, Oxfordshire, though I grew up in Brighton. I love experimenting with new spices and flavour combinations in my kitchen. To relax I play the flute and am a member of several flute choirs.

Science is about thinking about what could happen, so I love science fiction books and tv. Doctor Who is my favourite at the moment, with Star Trek a very close second.
My pronouns are:

she/her
My Work:

I’m a scientist who helps companies understand the environmental impact of their products.
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I help companies to calculate and report the environmental impact of their products. I have worked on a huge range of things from concrete and pipes to e-bikes and outdoor clothes.

I spend a lot of time explaining environmental impacts to non-experts, collecting information about their products and then calculating the results. The maths is easy – just multiplying and adding – but making sure that the results make sense is difficult.
My Typical Day:

I work from home because my office is in Sweden (a bit far to commute!). I spend a lot of time on the computer doing calculations and researching. I also use MS Teams to talk to my colleagues and clients. I usually work from 8am to 4:30pm, but on Mondays I have a team meeting at 7:30am!

I have ME/CFS which is like Long Covid, so I have to be careful to have lots of short breaks to recharge my batteries, else I won’t have energy to do anything fun at the weekend.

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

Blatchington Mill School and Sixth Form Centre, Hove, East Sussex

University of Cambridge, Jesus College
Qualifications:

GCSEs: 6xA*, 4xA, 1xB
A-levels: Physics (A), Chemistry (A), Maths (A)

MSci Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge. I specialised in chemistry, but also studied maths, physics, materials and minerals, and history and philosophy of science. I liked that I covered a range of different subjects.

Diploma in Packaging, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Work sponsored this qualification.
Work History:

Sales Assistant – Clark’s Shoes, Brighton
Summer intern – Organic Chemistry department, University of Hanover, Germany
Summer intern – Industrial coatings, Azko Nobel, Newcastle

I’ve worked in coffee research for 18 years in a variety of roles, from packaging development to patents, novel foods to factory optimisation to environmental impacts.
Research and development scientist at Kraft Foods, Mondelez, Jacobs Douwe Egberts. Through mergers and acquisitions, the company name has changed several times, but my desk stayed the same!
Employer:

CarbonZero.

2 years ago I was employee number 7, but now we have grown to 16 people.

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  carbon footprint calculator
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  A scientist. I didn't know what topic though.
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  No, I was the quiet studious one.
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  Astronaut
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  I love too many types of music. It wouldn't be fair to have a favourite
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Chocolate