Category: Alumni

Strengthening links among Imperial College London Researchers and Alumni interested in the Latin America Region

The 3rd Symposium: Sustainable Development in Latin America, organised by the Latin American Society of Imperial College London (Lat-Imperial), took place on the 20th and 21st of May 2019 at the Skempton Building. This symposium aimed to present Imperial and UK/Europe based research that directly impacts the sustainable development and future of the Latin America (LATAM) Region. Researchers from several nationalities with interest in Latin America presented their work, selected after a rigorous peer-review process, on topics such as the role of natural resources, climate change policy, waste management and innovation, water use and urban planning, energy transition and bioinformatics for a sustainable future of the LATAM Region. The symposium has now been positioned as a forum for scientific and political discussion that enables academics, policy-makers and industry getting together around their common interest in Latin America and its sustainable development.

A significant number of Imperial’s PhD researchers are conducting their research in the LATAM Region. Two third of the publications of Imperial are in collaboration with international institutions around the World. Imperial College London collaborates with Latin America and publications with partners in the region include research in the Andes Mountains, the Galapagos Islands, volcanoes across LATAM, the Amazon region, and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Thus, it is paramount to stay connected and show the impact of Imperial researchers’ work to promote potential new collaborations within the LATAM region. With this in mind, the Lat-Imperial launched the 3rd Symposium along with the Latin America Alumni Network of Imperial College London.

A networking event on the evening of the symposium’s first day was organised to bring together Imperial researchers, students and alumni. Because of this, the symposium was selected for the kick off of the Alumni Regional Group for Latin America including alumni and current PhD researchers. The Director of the Alumni Relations Office, Ms Nicola Pogson, gave a warm welcome, remarking the importance of being connected beyond graduation. Ms Pogson reminded the Alumni not only the benefits of being Imperial Alumni but also mentioned some examples of how Imperial Alumni networks in some regional groups have collaborated towards addressing local challenges and invited the community to join the online platform Plexus.

Dr Camilo A. Mesa, current research associate at the Department of Chemistry, was elected as the first Chair of the Imperial College London Latin American Alumni Network. Camilo said “Consolidating our Network will involve sharing insights and knowledge from that ‘next step’ upon finishing the PhD to getting funding or following an academic career, or discussing job opportunities amongst our distinguished Imperial alumni”.

“Regardless the subject we graduate of, or the topics we are experts in, our network will promote values of unity and collaboration amongst Latin American professionals and researchers carrying on their investigations in Latin America”.

On Monday, the 20th of May 2019, the Latin American Alumni Network of Imperial College London was officially established. Dr Camilo Mesa, PhD in Chemistry graduated in 2019, has been elected Chair of the Alumni Network for the period 2019-2020. The mission of this organisation is to serve as a platform for official interaction among Imperial College Alumni that either are nationals of Latin American countries or have a professional interest in the development of the Latin American region. To this end, the Latin American Alumni Network aims to organise periodical and frequent meetings at Imperial College London and within the countries of its members.

The Latin American Society of Imperial College London acknowledges the support and guidance of the Graduate School and the Alumni Relations.

We also acknowledge all the team, sponsors, embassies, and collaborators that work for the success of the symposium and the networking event:

Ernesto Santibanez Borda, Moises Gomez, Diego Moya, Luis Salinas, Miguel Noya Vargas, Irene Escobar, Denis Fraga, Michelle Arellano, Ana Teresa Vargas Frutos, Denis Martins Fraga, Matias Alejandro Lasen Andrade, Paola Alejandra Saenz Cavazos, David Ricardo Pedrero Bastidas, Jaime Alberto Parra Raad, Diego Mesa, María Verónica Ordoñez, Camilo Mesa, Sara Abad, David Terán, Boris Ochoa-Tocachi, Pablo Carvajal, Paulina Quintanilla; The Graduate School, The Alumni Relations, The Energy Futures Lab, The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering, The Energy Society – Energy Journal, The Institute for Applied Sustainability Research, The Department of Chemical Engineering, The International Relations Office; The Embassies of Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Brazil, Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia y Argentina.

 

The PhD can be about more than scientific research

By Adam Persing.

I am Chief Data Scientist at MRB Partners, a Manhattan-based advertising/tech start-up, where I discover and develop machine learning algorithms that drive the firm’s products. I graduated from Imperial in 2014 with a PhD in computational statistics.

The main purpose of a PhD program is to teach a student how to conduct scientific research, but it also cultivates a skillset that can prepare a student for a career outside of academia. I have found that some of the most valuable elements of that skillset are:

  1. Communication,
  2. Market research, and
  3. Self-management.

In the following blog post, I will discuss each point in some detail, highlighting how the skill was developed during my PhD and how I apply the skill today in industry.

Communication

As a doctoral researcher, I communicated new, complex ideas to my peers through conference talks, journal publications, and my thesis. My thesis was a milestone in my personal development. It was the first time that I had ever organized, written, and presented such a large body of work, for an audience that I would expect to have little or no background in the subject matter. This skill is one I use today daily. As a technical person in industry, it is the norm for me to communicate science to people who have no formal training. Working in a start-up, there is the additional hurdle of having to explain and sell novel products to a market that previously had no concept of them.

Market research

I made a considerable effort to keep abreast with new research advancements in computational statistics when I was a doctoral researcher. I learned to check the arXiv on a daily basis, attend conferences and departmental talks regularly, and continually analyse my findings. This process of closely monitoring a field of research and forming opinions on the direction in which it will advance is parallel to market research in industry. I now track advancements in tech to help plan for the future. Just like in academia, I identify the key players within my industry and I read/listen-to everything they put out, while speaking with them when I have the opportunity. This research helps me form opinions about where tech is headed, thereby enabling me to form effective strategies.

Self-management

My principal PhD advisor gave me the freedom to manage myself when I was a doctoral student. I operated within his research framework, but I controlled my own pipeline of projects. Having this responsibility taught me how to structure a productive workday for myself, as well as time, resource, and project management. I would not be able to do my job today without these skills.

Conclusion

The truly unique aspect of a PhD program is that it teaches a student how to conduct research, and the purpose of this blog post is not to sell the degree to people who do not have a strong interest in research and in learning how to advance science. Rather, my hope with this post is to encourage research students to realize that there are important benefits to the experience (apart from the specialist knowledge) that can advance their careers.

(Left) I live in Manhattan in Tudor City, a 1920s apartment complex known for its rooftop TUDOR CITY sign. The complex takes its name from England’s Tudor dynasty.

(Right) I work in the Flatiron District, which is named for the triangular shaped Flatiron Building.