Email: holly.turner@reading.ac.uk

I finished my PhD last year, and since the start of this year I’ve been doing something rather different. Courtesy of SCENARIO DTP funding, I am doing a 3-month post-doc placement with JBA Consulting in Skipton, North Yorkshire. After spending 3.5 years researching in an academic setting, it is great to be able to apply my knowledge to real-world problems.

Working in industry has a very different feel to working in academia. The science being done has an immediate purpose for the company, rather than being done purely to extend knowledge. In the case of my placement, the work that I am doing is ultimately to benefit the end users of the product.

The field that I am now working in is rather far removed from my PhD project: I have gone from gravity waves to surface water flooding. Whilst it has been quite a steep learning curve to bring myself up to speed with the current science in this area, it is great to branch out. I would urge anyone interested in doing an industrial placement not to be put off by going outside of your subject area. You might find something else that suits you better. It might even be the best step you ever make.

The choosing and setting up of the placement has all been fairly easy for me. SCENARIO had a range of placements available and I chose the one that most interested me. I had to send an application to the company, who then called me for an interview. Once they decided to offer me the placement, SCENARIO did the setting up with both JBA and the university. All I needed to worry about was finding accommodation for the 3 months.

To anyone considering doing an industrial placement: do it! I am currently 3 weeks in and have really enjoyed it so far. Everybody has been welcoming and helpful. I felt like part of the team by the end of my first day.

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