• Question: What is your favourite part of your job?

    Asked by to Clare, Divya, Ian, Jess, Lewis on 12 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Jess Smith

      Jess Smith answered on 12 Mar 2014:

      I just answered a similar question, my favourite part is the experiments. It is very satisfying to design something, physically test it yourself, and then analyse the results. In my department some people prefer the theoretical aspect (making predictions and computer models and things that they may not be able to test at the time because of practical restrictions- like it being impossible to get the material hot enough or something) because it is right on the edge of what we know and that is exciting to them. A team needs a mixture of skills to work well!

    • Photo: Ian Hands-Portman

      Ian Hands-Portman answered on 12 Mar 2014:

      Teaching! – Yes, really. I teach people how to use the microscopes which means I teach them 1:1, it’s great taking someone from the being terrified to touch anything to being able to confidently jump on to a half million quid laser clad monster of a machine and use it. I’ve made some really good friends through teaching them on the microscopes – spend 7 hours in a small dark room with one person and you get to know them quite well.

    • Photo: Lewis Dean

      Lewis Dean answered on 12 Mar 2014:

      There seem to be a few questions along a similar line to this (that’s not a criticism, I can see why you are asking it!). For me, the research is great. I love coming up with questions, working out how to answer the question and then going and doing the work. There is always something surprising that will happen and your ideas will really be put to the test!

    • Photo: Divya Venkatesh

      Divya Venkatesh answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      This is a popular question 🙂

      I’m going to try an different angle – I love being a PhD student, which is my job title right now. There is a lot of freedom in terms of what you can do with your time – officially. So along with research you do a bunch of different things – like organising conferences, or being on student committees, writing etc. all which I’m doing right now and it makes life so much more interesting!

    • Photo: Clare Nevin

      Clare Nevin answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      Part of my job involves collecting semen samples from an IVF hospital and analysing the donor’s lifestyle through a questionnaire to make associations between their lifestlye and the quality of their sperm, and whether this could be affecting their children. It is fascinating how our physical wellbeing affects our gametes – sperm and eggs – so understanding public health is the real main interest I have in my work.

      In terms of day-to-day life, my favourite part of the job as a PhD student is working with other scientists. Our work is really collaborative, and we have become a lab family, working with each other every day. It’s really rewarding when you come across a problem in your work and you overcome it together.

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