Job Profile

Andrew

Project Assistant

Who do you work for?

Queensland University of Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering

What does your job involve?

I currently work as a project assistant for the Nanango Telescopes In Education QUT Observatory, which is located over two hours drive north west of Brisbane. The TIE program is sponsored by NASA and the observatory is hosted by QUT. The aim is to help kids enjoy and understand science, maths and engineering by operating a remote controlled telescope over the Internet from a computer at their school. I have been involved in developing web pages, testing software and building devices to make it all possible. I’ve also regularly spoken with sponsors and contractors. I’ll be assisting to create educational material for school students. The observatory has research telescopes and cameras, satellite communications, a NASA weather station and a solar powered system.

What do you like most about your job?

There’s always something new to learn or do. Plus I get to play with some of the latest technology in the fields of imaging, telecommunications and computing.

What are the perks of your job?

I think the biggest perk is the work environment – being at a university means that you’ve got a ready source of expertise close at hand if you need help, the hours are fairly flexible, and the Internet access is pretty good also. There is also the potential for travel, plus career advancement and recognition by your peers.

What is the most unusual or fun thing you’ve done in your job?

Doing an interview for Shanghai TV – I never imagined that I’d be given the opportunity to promote science in another country in such a direct fashion!

What inspired you to choose a career in this area?

I think that I first started to look seriously at a career in science after attending the National Science Summer School (now the Youth Science Forum) in Canberra at the beginning of Year 12. This gave me an opportunity to see what kind of jobs in science were available. It also showed me that careers in science were quite varied. Keeping my options open has lead to some very interesting positions.

How did you get to where you are now?

After leaving high school, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Science at The University of Queensland. I discovered that I enjoyed doing Physics, and ended up doing it for my major. When I finished my degree, I quickly enrolled in a Post Graduate Diploma of Science as I was eager to do some further research – especially in the field of Astrophysics. After completing the diploma, I initially worked for UQSport, managing their social netball competition – not exactly what I’d studied for, but it was a lot of fun! While I was employed there, I started a short-term contract at QUT to do some software analysis for online teaching. From there I’ve done work developing online tutorials, some commercial research, and now I’m working as a Project Assistant on the Nanango observatory.

Who or what has been an inspiration to you?

My family has been a great inspiration to me, especially my late grandfather. A self-educated man, he continued to learn throughout his life. I hope that I retain my desire for learning throughout my life as he did.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

One, by Confucius, says: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” The other is by Einstein, who said: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” They built my confidence to try something new and even if it didn’t work out at first, to persist – I think it is advice that can be applied to all areas of your life.

What training/qualifications do you have/need?

I have a Bachelor of Science and a Post Graduate Diploma of Science (Physics). Qualifications necessary for my position would include strong written and oral communication skills and a degree or postgraduate qualifications in Physical Science or Engineering. Also the abilities to time-manage, acquire new research skills, work in a team and independently, and skills in using computer software and languages are valuable.

What subjects did you study at school?

English, Maths I, Maths II, Chemistry, Physics and Modern History.

What are your career goals/plans for the future?

Seeing the telescope up and running is my short-term goal. I’d like to get back to doing a Master’s or PhD, and would definitely enjoy traveling to and working in other countries as part of my job.

What career opportunities are there for people in your field?

Endless. You are only limited by your imagination and dedication – just because you’ve finished Uni doesn’t mean that you've stopped the need for learning. By constantly updating your repertoire of skills, you’ll always be able to adapt to the changing job market.



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