Georgie Mercer
Current Employer/Organisation Name
University of Exeter and the Met Office
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
After graduating from Exeter, I completed an MSc in Environmental Data Science and Machine Learning at Imperial College London, specialising in AI applications for environmental data. I then completed a traineeship at the European Space Agency in Italy, contributing to Copernicus and Destination Earth data infrastructure projects.
I am currently a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter in collaboration with the UK Met Office, focusing on reducing uncertainty in European climate projections through the analysis of large-scale atmospheric circulation in climate models.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose this career because I wanted to use science and data to tackle climate change in a way that informs real-world decisions. During my undergraduate degree, I became interested in how climate processes, data, and policy interact.
What I enjoy most is working across disciplines combining climate science, data analysis, and emerging technologies and seeing how complex research can be translated into insights that are relevant for policy and society. I also enjoy the travelling and working in international environments.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I had an excellent experience with the teaching staff in CGES, the small cohort and campus provided a very familial environment where I felt supported and uplifted. My biggest highlights were the field excursions, where we bonded as a group whilst gaining practical research experience.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
The proximity to the sea and the general natural beauty of Cornwall were a big factor in why I loved living in Falmouth.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
At the time I was not sure yet what career path I wanted to take, so having a very diverse set of modules at the beginning and being able to specialise and tailor the degree towards the end was perfect for me.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
My scientific reporting and writing skills were something that set me ahead a lot when I moved into computer science after.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Competition is strong, so finding your niche is important. Having knowledge across multiple domains that don’t generally overlap can be very powerful in applications. Having a degree like this allows you to pivot, especially when considering a masters, and I would recommend considering that.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to move more towards international policy, I have a placement coming up with the European Commission and hope that I can break into this sector after completing my PhD.
