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Yoseph Araya

Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Sciences
What employment sector do you work in?

Academia Sector

How long have you had a green job for nature?

20 years

Salary Range

> £40,000

Please describe the work that you do.

I undertake teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities as part of being an academic at a University. My topics vary from teaching basic ecology to undergraduates and postgraduates to undertaking research in ecological topics (e.g. species coexistence, distribution and habitat management) to engaging the public in scientific research (citizen science). I also help prepare academic resources for both formal and informal learners, through blogs, podcasts and TV documentaries.

What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?

I like the variety in the job and opportunity to engage in topics, quite a few of which have practical relevance. Meeting and inspiring students about our environment is also an enjoyable aspect of the work. One concern I have about higher level academic jobs is, it is competitive and traditional jobs can be scarce, if one is not exploring more wider applications.

What inspired you into this career? 

I liked learning and had inspiring teachers as well as the various documentaries available of TV (especially the natural history programmes of the BBC).

Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far? 

The main challenge is the need to continuously learn, apply ones knowledge and secure a relatively stable job. This is not particularly easy but rewarding when it works out.

What education/training did you have?

I had undergraduate, postgraduate degrees (MSc and PhD). I studied topics relevant to agriculture and ecological sciences.

What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession? 

I will encourage them to build other relevant skills in addition to what they study at university e.g. skills in species identification, volunteering with relevant conservation bodies are key. Also I would encourage people to link their other interests and hobbies with the environment, as it the environment is a topic that enriches / can be enriched with diverse experience.

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Tags: England, Academia, Researcher, Lecturer

Date profile submitted: 08/08/2024

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