Scientists and tech workers give us exciting insight into working in STEM

15 Jul 2016

Usually we lead off these weekly round-ups with an account of how many jobs were announced in the preceding five days, but this week, we have something far more important to focus on – the researchers, scientists and tech employees at work in Ireland.

There were, of course, still jobs on offer – 10 were announced by enterprise software company Kaseya, even if they did pale in comparison to the exceptional accounts we were hearing from Ireland’s researchers and techies.

On the flip side of that, we had some news from Morgan McKinley that Kaseya will likely not be too happy to hear: the IT talent pool is particularly arid at the moment, with far fewer skilled persons looking for work than there are jobs for them to fill.

Bank of America and Google might be working to make that pool a little less dry, both announcing this week separate training programmes to build up talent.

Google, which is focusing specifically on the training of software developers, might be on the wrong track, if Christian Harris, VP of northern Europe at Deezer, is to be believed. Harris reckons the notion of a set career is no longer relevant, leaving the workforce free to move, not just between companies, but between disciplines.

Harris wasn’t the only tech worker we heard from this week, with Jasna Valickovic, a QA automation engineer at Comtrade, giving us some insight into what it’s like to be a female engineer.

This week, to coincide with the release of the all-female Ghostbusters reboot, we also shone a spotlight on some of the real-life female scientists at work in Ireland (a series we will be continuing into next week, so keep an eye out).

We heard from Joveria Baig, who is carrying out research in photonics; Inspirefest 2016 speaker Lisa Helen, who is developing a smart needle; and Valeria Nicolosi, who told us how she got to this point in her research career.

Early in the week, we moved away from women and research to hear from Derek Murtagh, an instrument and calibration lead at Bristol-Myers Squibb, who told us about his work in Australia and why he moved home to Ireland.

And finally, we end on something light – recruitment posters for jobs on Mars. Sadly just mock-ups for an exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center for now, but maybe someday…

For more details on any of these stories, as always, follow the links below.

1. IT talent pool drying up, as financial services spreads its wings

The latest report from Morgan McKinley shows the continued difficulties companies face when hiring IT professionals. Elsewhere, financial services companies are leaving the capital.

2. Bank of America puts $40m into training youths for future work

Bank of America is investing $40m in training up youths and young adults to prepare them for modern jobs. A new US initiative to help 100,000 youths upskill their way into the workforce has been established by the bank.

3. Google to train 2m Android developers in India for free

Internet giant Google is planning to train up to 2m software developers in India on its Android platform, rivalling Apple, which has also been deploying considerable resources to the region to support its iOS ecosystem.

4. ‘The notion of a set career is scarcely relevant in the 21st century,’ says Deezer VP

How do you build a successful career in streaming? We speak to Christian Harris, VP of northern Europe for Deezer (which recently entered into a partnership with Three), about his career trajectory and how the idea of a set career is losing its relevance.

5. Is lack of transparency standing in the way of engineering sector growth?

Jasna Velickovic is a QA automation engineer at technology services and solutions company Comtrade, and gives us some insight into being in the minority in her work.

6. Researching light and the workings of the universe at Tyndall

Joveria Baig, electrical engineering PhD student at Tyndall National Institute, discusses her work, her career path and the research field.

7. In research, no two days are the same, says creator of Smart Needle

Lisa Helen, an Irish Research Council (IRC) PhD scholar based at Tyndall National Institute, and Inspirefest 2016 speaker, tells us about her important work in medtech.

8. CRANN and AMBER researcher encourages young scientists to push their limits

Valeria Nicolosi, researcher at CRANN and AMBER, and professor of nanomaterials and advanced microscopy in the Trinity College Dublin School of Chemistry, gives us some insight into the steps that led her to a career in research.

9. Leaving Ireland for adventure, coming home for family and BMS

Many people – at one point or another in their life – get a yen for adventure. A desire to push at the boundaries of their life and try something radically different. For Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) instrument and calibration lead Derek Murtagh, that desire took him to Australia. BMS and his girlfriend brought him back.

10. Fancy a job on Mars? Check out these retro recruitment posters

Bored of the nine-to-five? Fancy a new challenge? Maybe you could be persuaded to consider a career on Mars.

Looking for jobs in tech or science? Check out our Featured Employers section for information on companies hiring right now.

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Main image via Shutterstock

Kirsty Tobin
By Kirsty Tobin

Kirsty Tobin served as careers editor of Silicon Republic from 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy and sassy comebacks.

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