In this blog post, Dr Laura Cowley, Research Officer and Data Scientist at Population Data Science at Swansea University shares her inspirational journey into research with us.
What did you do before joining Population Data Science?
I studied Psychology as an undergraduate and then completed a Master’s in Neuropsychology, and I was initially interested in pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience.
After finishing my Master’s, I was lucky enough to land a position in the Division of Population Medicine at Cardiff University, researching the epidemiology of child maltreatment. I completed my PhD there, which combined psychological decision-making theories, Bayesian statistics, data visualisation, and clinical and legal aspects of child maltreatment.
After my PhD, I worked at Public Health Wales for a while, where I really enjoyed learning about data linkage techniques for policy-relevant research.
What sparked your interest in a research career?
During my undergraduate degree in Psychology, I quickly realised I was not interested in becoming a Clinical Psychologist. We had to complete many statistics modules, which was new to me at the time. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed statistics and academic writing and realised how important research and evidence are for underpinning clinical work. From then on, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in research, but it was only when moving to Public Health Wales that I became interested in data linkage research.
If any, what challenges have you faced in your journey into research?
I graduated around the time of the 2007 recession, and for a while, it wasn’t easy to secure a research position or, indeed, any type of job. I remember going to the pub with my last £10, and by chance, I got chatting to a local psychologist who gave me a job as a receptionist in his consulting firm, which was incredibly lucky! I worked in pubs and as a ‘casual’ research assistant for a good few years before landing my first ‘real’ research job. I also learned that research jobs and PhDs are very competitive. I was disappointed that I had not secured a position in a Neuroscience department, but I am very happy now with how things have worked out.
What type of research have you worked on?
I have worked on various projects in child health and social care, including projects on child maltreatment, diabetes, injury prevention, mental health, and pathways through care. I have also worked on methodological projects in clinical prediction modelling.
What areas of research interest you? What does the future hold?
I am interested in the use of administrative data and statistical modelling to answer a wide range of research questions relating to child and family health and social care outcomes in Wales and beyond.
I am currently undertaking a three-year Social Care Fellowship, and I am also leading several projects as part of the COST Action-funded Euro-CAN network (Multi-Sectoral Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect in Europe).
I hope to secure a permanent position and, in the future, continue working with international colleagues in my field, as well as securing some further grant funding to continue building my research portfolio.
What advice would you give to someone looking at a research career?
Never give up! If you are determined to have a career in research and secure a PhD, with enough dedication, you will get there in the end. Take every opportunity that comes your way and every opportunity to upskill yourself. Also, be humble and grateful to your mentors and seniors who are willing to give their precious time to invest in your development and career. Finally, so much of working in research is about collaborating with others, so a friendly and positive attitude is essential!
