Adastral Park - British Science Week - Health & sports science

Nathan

Chief Executive Officer, Muhdo

Key qualifications: Left school at 16 and gained experience through working my way through companies internal management systems and expanding my skills set.

What does your job involve? Primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company, acting as the main point of communication between the the board, shareholders and corporate operations and being the public face of the company, with the support of our team an support my team where ever I can. Best part working with elite athletes from all sports, and improving peoples health.

How did you get into your current role? Looked to move into Genetics and sports science but struggled to get the right position in a competitive market, so started my own company with a group of like minded individuals, never let a no stand in the way of your passion and ambition.

What did you want to be when you were younger? Successful and happy, life to short so enjoy it.

What do you do outside work? Football Chairman and Youth Coach.

Wez

Performance Director of Muhdo Health

Key qualifications: Ex-International and Professional Rugby Player, International and Professional Strength & Conditioning Coach, Qualified Teacher and Master in Teaching / Learning, Qualified Rugby Coach, Retain Firefighter

What does your job involve? I work with different partners to understand Muhdo and how to engage with different groups of people. I present seminars on the Muhdo product and how it benefits customers / companies. Organising meetings with different people on a daily basis which includes sales. Learn about other companies and industries and how Muhdo can support their offering. Work with elite level athletes and ambassadors in different sports, backgrounds and countries.

How did you get into your current role? I was working as a strength conditioning coach and researched into Genetic profiling, meeting James Brown. We continued our relationship and we met a group of individuals that wanted to help people and individualise health and wellbeing. So we formed Muhdo and created an app based product to help everyone understand how an individual can use their genetic make-up to improve their health and wellbeing.

What did you want to be when you were younger? Formula 1 Driver

What do you do outside work? I still play sport, love being active and going to the gym. I'm interested in cars. I enjoy helping and supporting people: I also work with an education company to train people in the fitness industry to help and support more people.

Stephanie

Applied Research Degree Apprentice, BT

Key qualifications: Physics, Maths, Electronics A Level. Currently Completing BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions

What does your job involve? As an apprentice my job is all about learning about the different teams in applied research whilst developing my software, business and data analysis skills. I've worked in multiple teams but am currently in the Openreach research team where my role involves both lab based network tests and analysis of current fibre network.

How did you get into your current role? I'm an apprentice so my career journey is only just starting! I decided I wanted to work in technology after completing work experience where I worked with one of the first versions of the VR headset by Oculus. When I found out that BT would pay for my degree and I could be working full time for them gaining invaluable experience in the field, I knew the apprenticeship was the right choice for me.

What did you want to be when you were younger? I love music and play several different instruments, growing up I wanted to play in a professional orchestra. After completing work experience, I moved my focus onto music production combining my love for technology with music and then when I was introduced to devices like VR and smart homes, I wanted to continue to look at the cutting edge technology so looked for tech based jobs in research.

What do you do outside work? As I said in the previous questions, I love music so am always looking for a new song to learn on the piano! I also live right next to the beach and enjoy long distance swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding in the sea.

Emma

Research Specialist, BT

Key qualifications: Project Management, BA Degree in IT Science with Honours (Information And Communication Technology)

What does your job involve? I work as a research specialist in BT's Applied Research. We look at the latest technology that we can bring into the business or launch as a new proposition, we marry the technical outputs from our own research teams and 3rd party products with cost saving and/or new revenue generating opportunities. This role includes running proof of concepts and trials of the identified technologies, I have mostly been focusing in the health space and looking at how technology can improve the lives of the elderly and vulnerable who live alone.

How did you get into your current role? After 4 years in the Royal Navy, working as a communications specialist, which is where I first gained a deeper interest in working with various different technologies. I joined BT in 2012 as an apprentice, my first role was based in BT's Media and Broadcast team as a project manager where I delivered live TV services such as: Wimbledon Tennis, the London boat race as well as BT Sport services. BT fully funded my degree during my apprenticeship, and I was able to rotate into various job roles throughout which gave me a good insight on what I wanted to do next.

What did you want to be when you were younger? A vet, because I've always loved animals, but then I started to also get interested in tech and as it's so fast moving, you can never get bored as there is always something new and exciting to explore!

What do you do outside work? I love karaoke, hiking, climbing and dancing. I am also passionate about travel, I have been fortunate enough to have travelled to a lot of places around the globe including; Australia, Thailand, India, Peru, Mexico, Dubai, America and Brazil. I speak intermediate Spanish as I used to live there for 3 years when I was younger.

Abigail

Applied Research Degree Apprentice, BT

Key qualifications: I am currently working towards a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions.

What does your job involve? I currently rotate around research teams as part of my apprenticeship which is one of the things I really like as it gives me an opportunity to experience some of the different areas within research.

How did you get into your current role? I completed a week’s work experience with BT after my GCSE’s and thoroughly enjoyed it. Additionally, I had another day’s work experience during my A-Levels to confirm that I wanted to work at BT. I applied for the BT apprenticeship scheme and now here I am!

What did you want to be when you were younger? Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant then an Actuary. This later changed to anything tech related as I advanced through my Computer Science lessons.

What do you do outside work? I enjoy kickboxing regularly, badminton and tennis.

Paul

Research Professional, BT

Key qualifications: Physics Degree and MSc in Laser Communications.

What does your job involve? My current role involves investigating how IoT technologies can be applied to Health and Social Care, which is particularly relevant and important in the current situation.

How did you get into your current role? I joined BT from University, originally working on optical fibre systems, then carried out a range of roles including hardware, software, and commercial product management until ending up in Research.

What did you want to be when you were younger? Professional sportsman, but luckily realised quite early it was never going to happen, so didn’t pin all my hopes on it.

What do you do outside work? I still play a variety of sports such as football, badminton and ski-ing, despite a non-working knee, and enjoy travelling.