Katherine Carter

"The personality type 'Coach' is useful as an ecologist, as I often work with lots of different people out on surveys so teamwork, friendliness, working with a variety of people and problem solving are very important! The personality type 'Quality controller' is useful as we must have an attention to detail when providing reports for our clients, and health and safety and risk management are vital for survey work. The personality type 'Trainer' is also useful as sharing knowledge around the team and helping each other to learn is important in ecology, and efficiency and organization are key skills for both fieldwork and reporting. "

"My job is very variable depending on the time of year! Throughout the spring/summer months (March-September) I spend most of my time on different sites around the country carrying out protected species and habitat surveys. These include bat, great crested newt, badger, reptile, barn owl, otter, water vole, nesting bird and phase 1 habitat surveys. We carry out these surveys for clients who are planning development works, for example new roads or railways. The data from our surveys advises our clients on mitigation measures which may be necessary to protect species and habitats. Some surveys are carried out in the daytime (reptile, otter and water vole, and badger, for example), whereas some surveys are carried out in the evening or at night (great crested newt, bats), so in the summer months my working hours are very flexible! In the winter, I mainly spend my time analyzing the data collected from surveys and writing the reports for our clients. I really enjoy my job, particularly throughout the summer survey season. I love working outdoors and getting to go to different sites around the country, and getting to see lots of beautiful wildlife! "

"I began by doing my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (Zoology) at the University of Birmingham. Between my second and third years, my university put an advert out for a local ecological consultancy who wanted students to help with great crested newt translocation. So I applied for this and got the job, which meant working independently on a small site in Tamworth checking pitfall traps and carpet tiles for great crested newt translocation. I had no prior knowledge before this job, but was given a short training session which taught me everything I needed to know. This instigated my passion for ecology! After graduating from university I then applied to be a seasonal assistant ecologist for various ecological consultancies. I worked from March-September on a zero hours contract for FPCR, during which time I did lots of great crested newt, bat, reptile, phase 1 habitat and badger surveys. I really got to grips with what ecology entails during this time and learnt valuable surveying skills! I also put my CV on CV library online, which led to me working for SLR consulting throughout that June-July. This involved working independently on a reptile survey once per week at a small site in Maesham, where I found lots of grass snakes! I did not have any prior experience of these survey types before working for FPCR or SLR, but both companies appreciated my enthusiasm and keenness, and gave me lots of opportunities to learn and responsibility of leading surveys. These roles allowed me to gain confidence in my survey skills and really cemented my ambition to become an ecologist. After finishing my role at FPCR in September, I began my Master's degree in Biodiversity and Conservation at Nottingham Trent University. This course helped me to learn valuable report writing, GIS mapping, and data analysis skills. I also learnt about the important legislation which our work is built around, and about project lifecycles within ecological consultancy. I also got the opportunity to learn more survey techniques, and to carry out my own research project using these techniques. Whilst I was half-way through my Master's I applied for the graduate ecologist position at AECOM.I was interviewed for the graduate ecologist position at AECOM in the May, and I got the job! AECOM agreed for me to be on a zero hours contract throughout the summer whilst I finished my Master's degree, so I worked 2 days per week alongside writing my dissertation. I then graduated in October, and began my position as a full time graduate ecologist at AECOM in October. I have now been a graduate ecologist at AECOM for 1.5 years and I am continually learning and progressing every day, and really enjoy being an ecologist!"

"I spend most of my spare time looking after and riding my horses, and walking my dog! As an ecologist I always find myself spending dog walks stopping to try and identify plant or bird species!"

"In the winter my typical day involves report writing, drawing up maps showing survey results in GIS, or checking survey data for quality control. In the summer, my typical day involves either a daytime badger/otter/water vole survey, or evening/night time work doing GCN or bat surveys. When working nights I tend to rest/ride my horses in the daytime. "

"A level BiologyA level ChemistryA level Religious Studies AS level Physics BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Zoology) - 1st class MSc Biodiversity Conservation - Distinction "