Sometimes it helps to make a list. At least it did for UQ PhD candidate Candice Jones from the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
Candice was looking for an HDR placement opportunity to practice using her transferrable skills in a different working environment than she was used to. So she created a list of career pathways she was considering after her PhD and organisations that align with those pathways. “I did research into each organisation and their departments to determine what sparked my interest and would be suitable for a placement,” she said.
She narrowed the list to two organisations, and reached out to one of them, Pathogenomics Research Group at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation (CSIRO), by email. She introduced herself, gave some information about the placement program and explained why she wanted to complete the placement in their department. The group leader agreed to meet Candice in person to discuss further, and by the end of the meeting they had some project ideas and decided to move forward with the placement.
Candice elected to undertake her placement for one to two days per week over a longer period so she could continue progressing her PhD research at the same time. “This worked well with the host organisation as they were close to UQ and also preferred a part-time placement over a longer period due to the nature of the project,” she said. The placement started a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began, so it was disrupted. Fortunately, she was able to pick it back up when restrictions allowed.
The placement involved Candice conducting research into a pathogen that infects wheat and barley to identify native hosts and to better understand the infection cycle in Australia. “I was able to apply some existing laboratory skills while also learning many new technical skills,” she said. She also enjoyed working on a new team, which helped her further develop confidence in her interpersonal skills.
Overall, Candice’s placement was a positive experience and helped to build her confidence in a career after her time at UQ. “It helped me to understand what aspects of work I enjoy and find important, which is very valuable while considering what pathway to take after my PhD,” she said.
If you are a UQ HDR candidate and would like to explore your placement opportunities, attend an information session to learn more about the program.
