Science, technology, engineering and maths offer some of the coolest jobs on – and off – the planet.
We’re sharing the inspiring stories of successful experts who use STEM in their daily jobs.
Find out how they got their dream jobs and what you need to get yours! Come behind the scenes in this series of short films and hear from all our experts about how to follow your passions an build an exciting future for yourself – and the planet!
Participant: Michelle Hobbs
A marine biologist working in the semi-arid interior of Australia? A career across environmental consulting, water quality policy and agriculture has meant just that for Griffith University’s Michelle Hobbs, who has a cool job in freshwater research. A lecturer in rivers, catchments and conservation biology, Michelle’s research is focused on the ecology of freshwater mussels in Australia. Michelle’s research also looks at how Indigenous knowledges and values are critical to conservation and water management. Michelle’s field work sees her contending with sandflies, venomous snakes, wild pigs, crocodiles and sharks, but becoming immersed in new places to learn what lives there and from people who belong to those places helps to gain knowledge in how to best manage these precious ecosystems into the future.
Participant: James Greig
A degree in information technology and a career in entrepreneurship led James Greig to produce hand sanitizer during a global emergency. As a leader in the ICT industry and part of Griffith University’s ICT Industry Board, James’ work helps people to turn their dreams and ideas into reality. For James, the thrill is in building something that helps to solve real-world problems. Founding two tech businesses and a distillery, James was thrown a curve ball with the announcement of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Rather than putting his distillery business on hold, James saw an opportunity to help produce something that was in critically short supply – hand sanitizer. Using new technologies to help improve the lives of others? It’s all in a day’s work.
Participant: Celeste de Mézières
Most people think that Biomedical Engineers are only found in hospitals and research labs, but Celeste de Mézières gets to work with fighter jets that fly faster than the speed of sound! As a Biomedical and Electronic Engineer at Boeing Defence Australia, Celeste is part of a multidisciplinary team of specialists that maintain and optimise the physiological performance of aircrew. During her studies in Biomedical Science at Griffith University, Celeste discovered that electronic and biomedical engineering could be combined to apply engineering principals to solve unique problems in healthcare in one of the world’s largest aerospace companies. Now there’s a career that really takes off!
Participant: Dr Erin Rayment
Studying physics and chemistry doesn’t just lead to working in a lab (although that’s awesome too!). QUT’s Dr Erin Rayment uses her degree in Biotechnology Innovation to explore and develop advances in biological engineering and business. Working as Executive Director of Industry Engagement at QUT, Dr Rayment works to set up new companies and products, pushing the boundaries of new technologies—such as using gene editing to help the banana industry develop banana crops that can resist disease! Making the world a better place by intersecting science and business? Now that’s a cool job!
Participant: Dr Geremy Farr-Wharton
Boardrooms and charts? Nah! Business Development for QUT’s Dr Geremy Farr-Wharton, Senior Associate in the Office of Industry Engagement, is all about searching for awesome research that can transform our everyday lives. Dr Farr-Warton works with businesses to help them engage with the latest in health and data science research, taking cutting edge research to those that can shape the world and the innovations we use. Sitting at the very frontier of science and pushing the boundaries of what the newest technologies can do? Cool job alert!
Participant: Dr Evan Shellshear
They say love, money or people make the world go round. That may be true, but mathematicians make the world run better! Far from just sitting at a desk proving theorems, as Head of Analytics at Biarri and Industry Fellow of the Business School at The University of Queensland, Dr Evan Shellshear solves the real-world problems that have a big impact globally. Mathematics is a universal language and leads you to careers that can really take you anywhere.
Participant: Dr Claire Chakrabarti
As a child, Claire always asked ‘why?’. It was this curiosity that sparked her career as a science communicator and educator at Queensland Museum’s SparkLab Sciencentre. As Programming Coordinator of SparkLab, Claire develops opportunities for visitors to be the scientist, make observations and be curious. Questioning and exploring the world around us with visitors is all in a day’s work.
Participant: Dr Andrea Jalandoni
For Griffith University’s Dr Andrea Jalandoni, archaeology is so much more than just digging holes, it’s one big adventure! Travelling all over the globe, Dr Jalandoni uncovers some of the biggest mysteries in human culture by investigating the most interesting and significant rock art sites of the world. By using cutting-edge technology, including 3D modelling and drones, Dr Jaladoni answers fascinating questions about the past – and dodged a few crocodiles, sailed through shark-infested waters and scaled limestone cliffs along the way!
Participant: Dr Samantha Nixon
People might think that working with deadly spiders is scary, but for Dr Samantha Nixon it’s exciting! A venom scientist (and spider advocate) at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, Dr Nixon’s research looks at how venom can help to develop new medicine. Dr Nixon is a passionate advocate for addressing inequality in STEM, education and leadership through science communication, and hopes sharing her passion for spiders will help inspire the next-generation of Australian scientists.
