Case studies: Research scientist (maths): Clare Matthews

Clare's day is mainly spent reading and trying to understand mathematical papers and books, and using the ideas contained in these to complete problems set by her supervisor.

Following graduation with a BSc in Maths from the University of Bristol in 2003, Clare went on to a PhD programme at UCL which she completed in 2009. She is currently a research scientist at a large physics research laboratory in London.

Both my maths degree and my PhD are extremely relevant to my work. Although my PhD was in earth sciences, the research for this involved a lot of mathematical modelling. The three years of independent research that I carried out on my PhD meant that I entered the role in a higher position than if I had started straight after my BSc.

In addition to my mathematical background, my job has also involved plenty of training in areas that are new to me. I work with anywhere from one to six other people and have gradually been given more responsibility in my project roles. As I get to know more people at the laboratory, I am getting involved in a larger variety of projects.

The best part of my work is that I spend my day doing maths - which is exactly what I wanted to be doing. The work is intellectually challenging, but I never feel too pressured by deadlines. The work is also extremely interesting, and days never seem to drag. The research carried out in my laboratory is physics based, and many of the projects I’ve been involved with have led me into areas I knew very little about before I started. I often find myself thinking that I’d happily pay to learn some of the things I’m being paid to learn.

I have a lot of say in my career progression. If I am interested in a particular research area, there are plenty of opportunities to steer myself that way. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. I can wear anything; the hours are flexible; and I’m generally responsible for my own time-keeping, which helps me avoid having too many tight deadlines. I feel as though I’m responsible for my own work and that I’m not constantly being watched over or fed instructions. There’s a definite culture of putting in some time in the evening, but due to the nature of the work, I also often spend time in the evening or at weekends doing some relevant reading or thinking about particular problems.

In the future, I would like to specialise in my research, and I’m currently working out where I’d like my expertise to be. I’d certainly like to remain in research and possibly spend time at other research establishments - perhaps even do a secondment abroad. Research is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. However, it’s not a job you can leave at the door when you go home. You have to be sufficiently interested in order to devote your own time to developing your subject knowledge and thinking about your own projects. It’s essential to have more than a passing interest in your field otherwise it would be difficult to maintain the level of concentration and commitment needed. You need to be willing to spend a lot of time getting deeply involved in what might be a highly specialised subject.