Andrea Fidgett, Nutritionist, Chester Zoo

‘I have now built into my job many features of an academic career: lecturing, conducting research (including supervision of masters and PhD students with university partners) and publishing papers, but I have greater satisfaction doing this in the not-for-profit sector, where I get rapid feedback that my work and research is useful.’

I did my doctorate in the Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 2002. I investigated the relationship between nutrition, female condition, and reproduction in birds, asking ‘what makes a good egg?’

I now organise a nutritional advisory service for the animal collection at Chester zoo and conduct research. I was interested in the role zoos played in conservation of endangered species and sought suitable work experience. Initially my expertise was largely in studying behaviour in relation to improving captive animal welfare, but funding (and thus employment potential) for this topic was limited. I was allocated a research project to investigate diet and recognised a knowledge gap (albeit still poorly funded) that I could champion and fill. I then did an awful lot of preparation for the position to be created in the first place, but never took it for granted that I would be the one to fill the vacancy. I used my network of colleagues to establish what would be involved in actually doing the job and took a lot of time customising my application to meet the requirements specified. I have now built into my job many features of an academic career: lecturing, conducting research (including supervision of masters and PhD students with university partners) and publishing papers, but I have greater satisfaction doing this in the not-for-profit sector, where I get rapid feedback that my work and research is useful.

After a minimum of three years focusing on the minutiae of your research, it is incredibly difficult to truly recognise the diverse range of skills you have acquired. It is not easy to visualise how they can be used generically, beyond the context of your own research. Attending a GRADSchool gave me the insight and vocabulary to identify personal qualities I had, separate and apart from my highly specialised subject knowledge, understanding which has shaped my career decisions ever since.