Ellen Lamborn

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Fera Science Ltd.

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

I was a Postdoc in Greece at the University of Aegean, spent 9 years in retail, 7 years in freelance ecology and 3 years as a research ecologist.

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

Undergraduate degree dissertation.

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

Searched for jobs. Normal interview process with botanical skills test.

What does your current role involve?

Monitoring and evaluating agri-environment schemes.

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

Botanical identification, pollination ecology, research, project management, writing publications, presenting talks and posters. Research degree gave a background in all these areas.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Asking and answering questions.

What are the challenges in your role?

Studying reality rather than setting up controlled experiments.

What has surprised you about your role?

I still really enjoy it.

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 worked as a postgraduate tutoring assistant, which has helped me to encourage further training with colleagues.

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

Project management, science communication and research methods.

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

Finding a full time permanent position is difficult, but achievable.

What are your plans for the future?

To gain a promotion to senior ecologist.