The First10KDays Network HDR Event jump-starts a career in research
Ms Marina Silveria E Silva nearly didn’t go the First10KDays Network HDR Event. Her friend who was going with her cancelled at the last minute and the prospect
of walking into a room of leading researchers and “networking” with them alone as a student was a nerve-wracking prospect.
Nevertheless, Marina took a deep breathe and walked into the room of researchers and was pleasantly surprised, “I was treated as an equal and as a colleague as soon as I walked through the door”.
The First10KDays Network HDR Event is an opportunity for undergraduate students see what a career in child and family research could look like for them. Marina was interested in a career in research but wasn’t sure what that looked like. Completing a Bachelor’s of Science majoring in public health and biomedicine she was ready to explore how to further her career in research.
“The bachelor’s degree prepared me to understand biomedical science and public health, but I didn’t know what the day-to-day life as a researcher would look like. I thought an honours year would give me the experience of full-time researcher, and it’s a great stepping stone for a master’s or PhD later down the track if I want to.”
After attending The University of Queensland’s First10KDays Network HDR Event, Marina had further conversations with potential supervisors to discuss projects she could work on as an honours student and an opportunity came up to combine education and health.
Marina’s project looked at how children’s academic performance is affected by a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission. She analysed the NAPLAN data to the ANZPICR database, her work demonstrated the need for consistent post-discharge monitoring and educational support for all children recovering from critical illness.
Marina said this project was a great fit for her because it gave her the opportunity to highlight the advantages of approaching PICU care wholistically.
“I really liked the idea of looking at what happens post hospital. What happens 2 years down the line? How are the children impacted when they go back to their normal lives? To me, that’s so valuable because children need to be supported beyond their admission to PICU.”
Marina was offered a full-time position as senior research assistant before completing her honours year.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a PhD yet, so being employed as a scientist and having the opportunity to continue to do research really showed me that my team valued my work, my contribution and me as a colleague.”
Marina’s next career move is to become clinical researcher.
“I want to go to medical school, I really see my career as a clinical researcher – I didn’t know you could be a researcher and a medical doctor until I worked at the Child Health Research Centre and met inspirational clinicians who are also researchers – you don’t have to choose one career over another.”
Marina’s career in research has gone from strength to strength, as she works with her research team to help advance our understanding of treatment for children in PICU.
If you have considered a career in child and family health and wellbeing research, join us at the First10KDays Wellbeing event at 5:00pm on Wednesday, 19 August at St Lucia.
Register below.