Baby Steps- How is going so far?

How did it all start?

After finishing my masters I was ready to start a job as a data analyst, didn’t put too much thought into this, just felt like a natural next step after 4 years of studying. It was during the 21′ summer when I received an email from my current project leader Dr David Brazier, talking about the opportunity for a PhD research in Enhancing the provision of Labour Market Intelligence through Machine Learning. It immediately caught my attention and I begin to think how, given my current skill set and knowledge, I would be of fit for this project. I have to say the more I looked into this, the more it became apparent that it is the right development path for me. I realized that doing my own research will not only be more fulfilling but also it will be much more in line with who I am as a person.

How is it going?

My first three months were a great experience, I have met a lot of new people, many of them talented academics and I could not have imagined a better PhD team. While there is still a long way ahead of me, I have a feeling that I made the right decision and feel good where I am right now in my life. I enjoy the amiable atmosphere created by the Centre for Social informatics, especially the degree to which researchers are sharing ideas, information on seminars and conferences, it feels almost like we are all working towards the common goal, which is great! Although it was three months, I already participated in multiple insightful seminars, guest lectures and workshops, and even took part in an innovation voucher (later on that in future posts) which wouldn’t be possible without the help and guidance from my PhD team. Overall it is a great building experience for me as a person and independent researcher and I am looking forward to what the future will bring.