Science
Heather Walton
Subjects Studied:
S3-4 - English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, Geography, Graphic CommunicationS5 - English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, SpanishS6 - Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, Biology, Gaelic
Career:
Straight after school I went to the University of Strathclyde to study Chemistry. I did a five year course which included a year in Industry, so spent my fourth year in Liverpool working as a development scientist for a company that makes sun cream. For the other four years I lived in Glasgow and did a mixture of lectures and lab work, chemistry involves quite a lot of time in uni but I also still had time to take up some new hobbies. I kept up my part time job in the co-op during first year, and had summer jobs as an outdoor activity instructor and as a receptionist at a climbing centre. I also did a summer internship in the Strathclyde Chemistry Department. I finished university this May, receiving a first class degree. I was planning to move to Canada and work in the outdoors and travel for a year, but as this is 2020 I had to change my plans. I applied for a lot of chemistry jobs all over the UK during lockdown, and happily found one where I could stay in Glasgow. I am working as a Formulation Support Technician for a pharmaceutical company in Livingston, helping with the development and manufacture of finished medicines. This role is training me to be a development scientist in this industry sector, so my options in the next year or so are to apply for this promotion or alternatively go back to uni to study for a PhD.
Subjects Studied:
S3-4 - English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, Geography, Graphic CommunicationS5 - English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, SpanishS6 - Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, Biology, Gaelic
Career:
Straight after school I went to the University of Strathclyde to study Chemistry. I did a five year course which included a year in Industry, so spent my fourth year in Liverpool working as a development scientist for a company that makes sun cream. For the other four years I lived in Glasgow and did a mixture of lectures and lab work, chemistry involves quite a lot of time in uni but I also still had time to take up some new hobbies. I kept up my part time job in the co-op during first year, and had summer jobs as an outdoor activity instructor and as a receptionist at a climbing centre. I also did a summer internship in the Strathclyde Chemistry Department. I finished university this May, receiving a first class degree. I was planning to move to Canada and work in the outdoors and travel for a year, but as this is 2020 I had to change my plans. I applied for a lot of chemistry jobs all over the UK during lockdown, and happily found one where I could stay in Glasgow. I am working as a Formulation Support Technician for a pharmaceutical company in Livingston, helping with the development and manufacture of finished medicines. This role is training me to be a development scientist in this industry sector, so my options in the next year or so are to apply for this promotion or alternatively go back to uni to study for a PhD.
Aimie McSeveney
Subjects Studied:
S3-4 - Maths, Physics, Geography, Graphic Communication, History, English, Art & Design and Gaelic.S5 - Higher Geography, Maths, English, Drama and PsychologyS6 - Adv. Higher Geography, Higher Biology, History and Modern Studies
Career:
I left Millburn Academy in 2014 and began my studies at the University of Aberdeen in Geology and Petroleum Geology. I chose to study this at university as I really enjoyed learning about physical geography and science when I was at school and geology was a great combination of both. It is the study of the Earth's materials, it's history and how its surface changes through the processes that have been acted upon it. Whilst studying I became more aware of the type of careers that were possible as a geologist and being in Aberdeen it seemed a natural progression to aim for a career in the energy industry.
I decided to continue with my studies after my 4 year undergraduate and I went on to complete my masters degree at Aberdeen in Integrated Petroleum Geosciences. My masters year was hard work but I was lucky enough to get to travel to the Spanish Pyrenees and Utah, USA on field trips that made up for the long hours of studying! During the summer of my masters I undertook an internship to complete my thesis with Equinor, a Norwegian energy company who focus in oil and gas, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and renewables. It was during this time I learnt the most about the role of a Geoscientist within the energy industry and that this was definitely the career I wanted to pursue.
In September 2019 I was offered a position with Equinor as a Reservoir Geoscientist in Aberdeen working on one of their fields in the North Sea. My job as a geoscientist consists of using various types of data to understand the rocks that make up the Earth's subsurface to safely and efficiently extract hydrocarbons from deep below the Earth's surface. I am now living in beautiful Oslo, Norway working within my company's international sector providing support to their many assets across the world. Its a very exciting career and its more important than ever to be involved with the energy industry. We are in a midst of a climate crisis and need to make sure we are putting the best minds to solving the complex issues we are facing of the world's ever growing energy demands whilst also striving for a low carbon future. Companies like Equinor are focusing heavily on renewables as well as projects such as CCUS, where depleted oil and gas reservoirs are injected with captured carbon from onshore industries. These projects are key to meeting the world's climate targets and utilising geoscience skills and knowledge of the subsurface is essential in contributing to the success of them.
Geoscientists have a very important role in our energy transition and I recommend students who love and are curious about our planet to learn more about how we are contributing to solving the issue of climate change and creating a greener future!
Subjects Studied:
S3-4 - Maths, Physics, Geography, Graphic Communication, History, English, Art & Design and Gaelic.S5 - Higher Geography, Maths, English, Drama and PsychologyS6 - Adv. Higher Geography, Higher Biology, History and Modern Studies
Career:
I left Millburn Academy in 2014 and began my studies at the University of Aberdeen in Geology and Petroleum Geology. I chose to study this at university as I really enjoyed learning about physical geography and science when I was at school and geology was a great combination of both. It is the study of the Earth's materials, it's history and how its surface changes through the processes that have been acted upon it. Whilst studying I became more aware of the type of careers that were possible as a geologist and being in Aberdeen it seemed a natural progression to aim for a career in the energy industry.
I decided to continue with my studies after my 4 year undergraduate and I went on to complete my masters degree at Aberdeen in Integrated Petroleum Geosciences. My masters year was hard work but I was lucky enough to get to travel to the Spanish Pyrenees and Utah, USA on field trips that made up for the long hours of studying! During the summer of my masters I undertook an internship to complete my thesis with Equinor, a Norwegian energy company who focus in oil and gas, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and renewables. It was during this time I learnt the most about the role of a Geoscientist within the energy industry and that this was definitely the career I wanted to pursue.
In September 2019 I was offered a position with Equinor as a Reservoir Geoscientist in Aberdeen working on one of their fields in the North Sea. My job as a geoscientist consists of using various types of data to understand the rocks that make up the Earth's subsurface to safely and efficiently extract hydrocarbons from deep below the Earth's surface. I am now living in beautiful Oslo, Norway working within my company's international sector providing support to their many assets across the world. Its a very exciting career and its more important than ever to be involved with the energy industry. We are in a midst of a climate crisis and need to make sure we are putting the best minds to solving the complex issues we are facing of the world's ever growing energy demands whilst also striving for a low carbon future. Companies like Equinor are focusing heavily on renewables as well as projects such as CCUS, where depleted oil and gas reservoirs are injected with captured carbon from onshore industries. These projects are key to meeting the world's climate targets and utilising geoscience skills and knowledge of the subsurface is essential in contributing to the success of them.
Geoscientists have a very important role in our energy transition and I recommend students who love and are curious about our planet to learn more about how we are contributing to solving the issue of climate change and creating a greener future!
Jennifer Mitchell
Subjects Studied:
Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, Modern Studies, Business Management, French
Career:
I earned a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow and am currently a Researcher at a Research Institute in Cambridge.
Subjects Studied:
Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, Modern Studies, Business Management, French
Career:
I earned a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow and am currently a Researcher at a Research Institute in Cambridge.