David Osuna-Ruiz

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Public University of Navarre

Can you give us an overview of what you have done since you completed your research degree?

I continued as a postdoctoral researcher in different universities for about 5 years, before being promoted to an assistant professorship in my current institution.

How did you become interested in the area you work in?

Since I started my PhD in Exeter.

How did you find opportunities in the area you work in and how did the recruitment process work?

Keeping in touch with colleagues and taking effort in networking and working in my field of research. The process typically starts by contacting a responsible in the department you are interested to work in and your CV is evaluated against other candidates.

What does your current role involve?

Teaching and doing research.

What skills are involved in your work and how did your research degree help develop them?

Attention to detail, programming, social skills, empathy, will to collaborate, mathematical thinking… and a long etc.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The excitement of exploring fields of research that few people know about. Teaching others about it is also very rewarding.

What are the challenges in your role?

To actually find things that are new, novel and relevant to not only the field of research, but also to society as a whole.

What has surprised you about your role?

The amount of administrative workload, but this can vary a lot depending on the place and time of the year.

Did you engage in any additional activities or roles (i.e. organising conferences, entering PGR showcase, being a PGR Rep etc.) during your research degree, and how did these help prepare you for a career beyond academia?

I took part in organizing some activities for science outreach and went on industrial placements. This activities showed me a different view of science that people (most of, actually) have.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Delivering talks in conferences, group meetings and engaging with people in collaborative work, not expecting to do everything on my own, alone in front of a PC… Also, failing and keep trying.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Choose a topic you find interesting to work in but, most importantly, supervisors (or a team, or colleagues) that give you good vibes and you feel comfortable working with. To some extent, follow your instinct.

What are your plans for the future?

Continue in academia and to keep enjoying research and teaching.