Profile

Candidate CV questions (extra)

• Education:

  I went to school in Normanton, near Wakefield, and found my love for science there. I studied only science at A-Level (Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Geology) at NEW College Pontefract, and then moved to The University of Sheffield to pursue a degree in Molecular Biology. This was when I found out how important developing new ways to grow plants was for supporting our growing population in the face of climate change, and it was at this time I learned that scientists at NASA were trying to figure out the same thing to feed astronauts. I decided this was what I wanted to do in my career as it would be fascinating, and as a bonus would get me closer to my end goal of becoming an astronaut. I then pursued a PhD in plant and soil science at The University of Sheffield and was awarded my PhD in March 2023. Some of the research I did during my PhD formed the basis of my NASA research proposal, so led me directly to the job that I am in now!

  

• Qualifications:

  I was awarded 13 GCSEs when I left school. Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths were the most important for my career, but I also really enjoyed music because I played drums in a band at the time. I went on to get 4 AS-Levels in Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Geology, and then full A-Levels in Chemistry, Biology and Geology. After this, I went to university to study for a degree in Molecular Biology because during my A-Levels I was fascinated with genetics and DNA sequencing. I was awarded an integrated Master’s Degree, which means that I went to university for 4 years and did everything required for a Bachelor’s degree, followed immediately by a 4^th year to get my Master’s degree, but never actually graduated with the Bachelor’s degree. Finally, I carried on my research journey and pursued a PhD in plant and soil science, which took me another 4 and a half years, and which I did during COVID which was very challenging! My PhD research formed the basis for the research in my current job, so my education led me directly here. My goal has always been to have a career in space exploration and so science has always been a focus, but the topic of science I have been interested in has changed many times. I followed my curiosity and finally made it into my dream career by doing plant science of all things, so always follow your passion.

• Work History:

  My first job was as a team member at Cineworld which helped put me through university. My first science related job was after my PhD, where I worked at the University of Manchester as a postdoctoral research associate in soil science. I was tasked with trying to create a map of how much carbon soils in South Yorkshire hold to try and figure out how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and it involved lots of digging up soil in fields as well as lab analysis and computer-based work to generate detailed maps. During this role, I wrote a proposal to come and work at NASA and was offered my current job at Kennedy Space Center. We moved to Florida in September last year, and this is where I am today!

• Current Job:

  I currently work at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow. I am in charge of my own research project where I am trying to find out the best way to provide nitrogen to plants in the space environment (except microgravity), but also get the opportunity to work on lots of other exciting projects that help us grow plants on the International Space Station and will, one day soon, allow us to grow plants on the Moon.

  

• Employer:

  I am paid to work as a research fellow by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU are authorized by NASA to issue research fellowships on NASA’s behalf to researchers like me who are not US citizens, but who NASA really want to come and work with them. It is a very prestigious program, with only around 20 people accepted a year across the whole of NASA! NASA itself is still the world-leader in space exploration, and with commercial partners like SpaceX and Sierra Space, Kennedy Space Center launches over a hundred missions a year from Kennedy Space Center, including astronauts, science experiments, and equipment to the International Space Station, in addition to satellites and other deep space exploration missions.