In this blog post, Dr Helen Hodges, Research Officer and Data Scientist, Environment and Health (ENVHE) Research Centre in Population Data Science at Swansea University and CASCADE Partnership at Cardiff University, shares her inspirational journey into research with us.
What did you do before joining the ENVHE/ CASCADE?
I returned to academia to do my PhD in my early 40s. Before that I worked in a range of public sector organisations as analyst/researcher including:
- a sub-regional development agency promoting Liverpool (my home town) as a great place to live, work and visit,
- the Learning and Skills Council,
- a local authority children’s services department,
- And, the police.
I completed my PhD in Criminology at Swansea University, and before starting my current role, I worked at the Wales Centre for Public Policy.
Following a secondment to CASCADE, I was able to secure funding from Health and Care Research Wales firstly to look at the experiences of children looked after in the youth justice system and then to complete a Fellowship looking at engagement in risky behaviours using data from the School Health Research Network’s survey of secondary age pupils. It is this Fellowship that I am continuing to do at CASCADE alongside my role as a Research Officer and Data Scientist in Population Data Science at Swansea University.
What sparked your interest in a research career?
I sometimes feel that I have the curiosity of a toddler wanting to know why …? Having identified that I have a flair for spotting patterns in data, it seemed like a logical step to find a role that enables me to do this and make a difference. I’ve worked in several different environments and changed my mind a few times, but I think I have finally found my niche!
If any, what challenges have you faced in your journey into research?
There is always a risk of struggling to strike an appropriate balance when working two part-time jobs. Historically, there have been times when I have taken on too much. I’m not sure that I have it right yet, but I have been working on it.
What type of research have you worked on?
I have worked on projects that enabled me to draw on my experiences prior to returning to academia. However, more recently, I have been involved in projects focusing on different forms of vulnerability among children and young people. This has enabled me to work with datasets from a range of policy areas, including children’s social services, the family courts, education, and health.
What areas of research interest you? What does the future hold?
My real passion is youth justice, so I am particularly excited that I am about to start working with the Ministry of Justice Data First Datasets. My latest data linkage project, funded by Nuffield, will explore the vulnerabilities of children (under 18) who are the subject of breach proceedings in the youth courts. I hope to evidence the extent to which those from different vulnerable groups are over-represented in the youth justice system and raise awareness amongst stakeholders of the need to adapt policy and practice to support these vulnerable children.
What advice would you give to someone looking at a career in research?
It’s very tempting to say ‘Yes’ to everything in order to gain experience. However, it is OK to say ‘No’ and to be become more strategic in your choices once you have figured out what you really want to be doing.
Environment and Health (ENVHE) Research Centre is one of the 12 Centres of Excellence based in Population Data Science at Swansea University. Find out more about their work here.
