As part of the BBSRC DTP programme, Natalie successfully completed her twelve-week Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPs). Natalie made the most of the scheme by taking the opportunity to do a PIPs abroad. She conducted her internship in British Columbia, Canada.
PIPs must be in a field differing from your specific PhD subject, and Natalie wanted to do something completely novel, away from science and academia entirely, to help inform her career choices in the future. Natalie interned with a small, progressive construction company who work with First Nations communities in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The company not only works with the nations on a client/contractor basis but over 90% of their onsite employees are indigenous too.
The company has a long-term official partnership with a local first nation community whom Natalie worked closely with. Specifically, Natalie worked with the indigenous communities on behalf of the company to assist them with project development, community outreach, grant writing and capacity building. Natalie helped implement of the company’s successful apprenticeship scheme for onsite indigenous employees who are interested in pursuing carpentry qualifications. Natalie wrote grant applications for potential projects, helped to organise a community-wide open house event, and developed proposals for new partnerships and community building projects. By working in a small company, Natalie felt like she was very useful and made a much bigger impact than if she had worked elsewhere. Excitingly, she has also been asked to continue with some remote work for the company on some relevant projects.
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