Route
to Job: Reasearch
demands formidable skills and Ruth's only way in was to blaze
a trial of qualifications to the door of the STRI.
She recieved a Higher National Diploma in applied biology from
University of Ulster, in 1992, with an ambition to be a lab
technician. However, her sights rose after she won a place to
do a degree in the same subject and followed this up with an
MSc in crop protection from the Scottish Agriculture College,
in Aberdeen.
Her next stop, Harper Adams Agricultural College, in Shropshire,
saw her complete a PhD, in 1999, on alternative controls of
fungal disease on wheat. She went back to Belfast and worked
for the department of agriculture, researching forage grasses,
before joining the STRI.
Typical day:
"My first job at 8.45am is to flick
through the journals to check up on relevant research. We are
currently looking at the spread of pests and diseases in the
K. I check fungal cultures in incubators, under light and in
the glasshouses ."During
the last week of the month, we have to do the computer work,
writing up our findings and updating reports. This is time consuming,
but it is an essential part of the job.
"As well as keeping up with latest published findings,
I write articles for magazines such as Greenkeeper International
and other golf magazines. I also teach on courses.
"This is tough going and the days of pure research are
over. You have to do so much more, including sourcing grant
aid to continue research. But it is great being at the forefront
of big changes in the treatment of turf."
Best
aspect of the job: "Not
being tied to a particular task, but but being outside and
seeing research through from start to finish."
Worst
aspect: "Having to write up reports, and the
time and money constraints on projects."
Ambition:
"The
need for research in turfgrass pathology will fill my time
for many years to come."
|
