Clare E.
About me
| Clare E. | |
| Environment | |
| Environmental Science and Management | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2006 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Research Development Manager | |
| Loughborough University | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Science and research | |
| 2016 |
Like this profile?
Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.
A day in the life of a Research Development Manager in the United Kingdom
I really enjoy working for a university and the variety of work. I've been working in research funding since 2008 and just find it very interesting and incredibly rewarding.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I work for Loughborough University
What do you do?
I support academics to apply for funding for their research projects. I work with some of our key funders to see what opportunities there are and promote these. I support research activity focused around Environmental Science, the broader Sciences (Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science) and research around developing countries.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I really enjoy working for a university and the variety of work. I've been working in research funding since 2008 and just find it very interesting and incredibly rewarding.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes totally! I was imaging myself as an Environmental Consultant when I first graduated, but was never successful in any of the graduate schemes I applied for. I sort of fell into a job where I learned all about writing funding applications and went from there really.
Describe your most memorable day at work
The day I found out we won a very competitive scheme for £6.6m. I literally squealed at my desk when I ready the email!
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
It is a really demanding job as I've got so many proposals on the go at any one time and it can sometime be a real juggling act as deadlines can often happen quite close together.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
Great - my colleagues are fantastic and all have the goal of supporting our academic colleagues. It is a high workload environment and can get pretty stressful on occasion, but I love the way that we pull together as a team. It is honestly one of the best places I have ever worked.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I actually didn't participate in many extra-curricular activities at university. But I did work part time and gained some useful skills.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I'm very happy with what I'm doing now for a while, but I'd love eventually to become a Head of Department or something similar
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Get involved in as much as you can and build a good network. So many jobs are given to people that are already known in the sector. But don't panic if you start off in a job that doesn't align to your degree as it will still give you great experience that you can use to apply for future jobs that are more closely related to your interests.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Clare’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Clare a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Clare to be your mentor.