Natalie Harvey

"I love finding out new things. I think that this fits with my Explorer and Investigator personality matches. I am definitely curious and enjoy solving puzzles. I am also resilient and organised. These things are are very important in my job, as is being a Quality Controller as you need to be able to trust the new discoveries you have made. "

"I currently work as a senior research scientist in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading. My research focusses on how things are transported in the atmosphere. I have spent the last 10 years working on improving volcanic ash forecasts for aviation. We have been developing methods and tools that can be used to make fast flight planning decisions following an eruption. I enjoy the varied nature of my job and that outcomes of my work have a real world application. The starting salary for a research scientist with a PhD is around £33,000. "

"Before my current role I completed a PhD, also at the University of Reading. I have also worked in pensions and as a secondary school teacher. Although pensions and teaching weren't for me they taught me valuable skills and gave me experience in different types of role which has helped me in my reserach career. "

"Alongside my job, I have 3 young children so I don't have a great deal of spare time. But I do enjoy singing, baking and I have recently started stand up paddle boarding on my local lake. I hope to do more of this on the sea when I visit my parents in the Channel Islands over the summer. "

"One of the great things about my job is that it is really varied. I have weekly meetings with my line manager to talk about progress and what is coming up. Outside that I could be preparing talks and scientific papers, writing computer code, supervising students or talking to the press. I am also involved in school outreach and promoting diversity and inclusion within my university department. "

"GCSEs: English Language, English Literature, French, German, History, IT, Maths, Music, Double ScienceA-levels: Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Music (AS level)Degree: BSc (Hons) Physics and PGCE at University of Nottingham PhD in Meteorology at the University of Reading "