Love a good career story? We’ve rounded up this year’s five most-read profiles on CareerswithSTEM.com
We’ve profiled loads of inspiring STEM professionals this year – sharing everything from their study history to first jobs and epic CVs in an attempt to inspire students looking into STEM pathways.
This year’s most-read pathways are from STEM areas as diverse as cyber security, data science and scientific illustration. And the coolest bit? They just so happen to be all women in STEM – which is amazing considering that only 16 per cent of Australia’s STEM grads are female.
For more inspiring STEM role models head to our Role Models Hub where you can scroll through 300+ real-life career stories. Search role models by STEM + X here.
1. Kavinka Singhal, Cyber Security Consultant
Curiosity and a strong desire to make a difference kickstarted Kavinka’s career in cyber security – although, to begin with, she had no background in information technology or coding.
“Establishing myself as an industry professional has been a roller-coaster ride,” she explains.
Kavika enrolled in a Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour at Western Sydney University. Her career path since then has included working as a private investigator at a company called Cybertrace, an internship with Google and her current gig as a cyber security consultant at professional services company EY (aka Ernst & Young).
Read Kavinka’s full pathway here.
2. Emma Studerus, Data Science Student
Emma has always been a numbers whiz, but diving into data to hunt for hidden solutions is what really makes her tick. “I love to make sense of data and use analysis to solve real-world issues,” says Emma.
Emma discovered her love of data science after taking a unit in data analysis while she was studying IT. After working in IT and customer service for a few years, she took the plunge and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Data Science at QUT as an external student. “Flexible learning allows me to create that balance between work, family, and study,” she says. “Being able to attend different online workshops is very helpful if I miss one.” And, instead of sitting in peak-hour traffic just getting to the uni campus, Emma uses the time to study at home.
One of Emma’s favourite things about studying at QUT is the focus on real-world skills and career development. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions during online classes – there are no silly questions,” says Emma. “Not only will you understand the subject better, but it will also encourage other students to engage more.
Read Emma’s full pathway here.
3. Erica Deegan, Water Engineer
Water engineer Erica loved maths, science and problem-solving as she went through school in her home state of Tasmania, so she signed up for a degree in environmental engineering – jumping the Bass Strait to enrol at UNSW Sydney.
“I was always interested in water and chose water electives,” Erica says. “I love that, as a water engineer, you can see what you’re working on in real life.”
After graduating, Erica kickstarted her career at UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory. Her work with the lab focused on coastal engineering and hazards. A highlight, she says, was the regular trips to the Gold Coast to study sand movement using remote sensing.
Keen to return home, Erica went back to Tasmania, where she spent time in higher education and later at a specialist consulting firm, before landing a job as a water engineer with her current employer, City of Launceston.
Read Erica’s full pathway here.
4. Mariana Oksdath Mansilla, Scientific Designer & Illustrator
Mariana Oksdath Mansilla has always loved to draw. Growing up with artists as parents, sketching came naturally to the Argentinian-born creative and was always encouraged through extracurricular classes and projects. But her other passion – which she speaks just as fondly of – came a little more out of left field. “At school I became seriously fascinated with science and the human body!”
As a qualified scientist and illustrator Mariana has combined her credentials to create a career in both her passions – science and art! Working for herself, she creates the sketches that sit in some of the country’s top scientific journals and medical manuals. “It’s my job to transform complex science into accurate and appealing images,” she says. Recently she prepped a glaucoma surgical manual for eye surgery, designing 12 medical illustrations explaining the complex steps involved.
Read Mariana’s full pathway here.
5. Louise Schoneveld, Research Scientist
A pull to wanting to understand our Earth propelled Louise through a geology degree and geochemistry PhD. It took her on internships to a copper exploration site in Queensland and a lab in Japan where she grew tiny rocks. And it continues to drive her now, working as a research scientist at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in Perth. “I had always hoped that I could work for CSIRO eventually,” Louise beams.
Louise shoots rocks with lasers using a piece of equipment called a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. “We make little particles, and then we can count the elements in each of the minerals in the rocks.” Traces of particular elements hint at whether the rocks come from near mineral deposits. Like nickel. It’s an important mineral used in solar cells, wind turbines, electric vehicles and energy storage. And rocks can show where to find it.
Read Louise’s full pathway here.
Looking for a real-life role model? Browse 100s of role models working across all areas of STEM here.
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