Profile
Clare Johnson
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About Me:
I live on the west coast of Scotland. I like art, chocolate and hanging out with my dog Fudge!
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I live on the west coast of Scotland and work at a marine research institute. The west coast of Scotland is very beautiful, but it rains a lot!
I have a dog called Fudge. He’s 11 now but I like taking him for walks. In the summer, if it’s hot, we sometimes paddle in the loch! I also like hanging out with my friends, particularly when we go to the local chocolate factory with a cuppa and chocolate! I also enjoy painting and drawing and watching sport.
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
I am a marine scientist. I investigate how water moves in the Atlantic Ocean, and how that moves around carbon and nutrients.
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I am a marine scientist in a lab on the west coast of Scotland. My institute has lots of different scientist who all investigate the ocean. Some study the rocks and mud at the bottom of the ocean, some the things that live in the ocean such as tiny plants, worms or whales, and some why the water moves as it does. My work investigates how water in the Atlantic moves around, and how that water transports nutrients and carbon. This is important for life in the ocean and also the climate.
I spend a lot of my time working at computer analysing data and trying to understand what it means. I use data collected from research ships that go into the Atlantic for a couple of weeks. I also use data from instruments that are tied to the seabed and left making measurements for 1-2 years before I download it. I also use data from robots that go into the ocean and are controlled from my computer!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and feed my dog – he is always hungry! I work part time so get into work around 11 am and mostly work at my desk looking at data or have meetings to talk about the results. Sometimes I teach students who are studying marine science. I get home at about 5:30 pm and my dog is waiting for his dinner!
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I work part time as I have a chronic health condition that makes me very tired. I start work at about 11 am which suits me great as I’m not a morning person! I spend a lot of time analysing data at my computer and trying to work out what it means. I plot a lot of graphs to help me understand. Sometimes I have meetings, either with people in my institute or sometimes in other countries via zoom. I also teach undergraduate marine science students so sometimes give lectures or run a lab class. I enjoy this, but it makes me very tired.
I have lunch with my colleagues and sometimes we go for a short walk. Particularly if it’s not raining! (It rains a lot where I live). I get home about 5:30 pm.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Um, I’m not 100 % sure at the moment! I’d speak to other folk at my institute for ideas to make sure the money is spent really well and reaches as many folk as possible.
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Education:
GCSEs and A-Levels in Sheffield.
Undergraduate degree (Environmental Sciences) at the University of East Anglia.
Exchange year, University of British Columbia, Canada.
PhD at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban.
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Qualifications:
GCSEs – art, biology, chemistry, english language, english literature, geography, german, maths, physics.
A-Levels – art, biology, chemistry, geography
BSc Environmental Sciences with a year in North America
PhD in marine science
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Work History:
Since my PhD, I’ve worked at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Initially as a research assistant on a four month contract and then as a postdoctoral research assistant (meaning I’d got my PhD) on an 18 month contract. Since then I’ve worked as postdoctoral research assistant on several projects.
During my undergrad degree, I worked as various things including at sea!
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Current Job:
Researcher on a project investigating the transport of nutrients and carbon by water in the Atlantic. This is a project involving scientists at lots of different institutes around the UK.
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Employer:
Scottish Association for Marine Science
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
chocolate-addicted marine scientist
What did you want to be after you left school?
a teacher
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Um, maybe working at the vets!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Queen
What's your favourite food?
chocolate!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Ummmm! A wee bit more money. To have a happy life. And for my pile of washing up to magically disappear! ;P
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a pile of kittens? A meow-tain!
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