Alice Endersbee
BSc (Hons) 2018 University of Otago
Current position: GROW Graduate at BASF Australia
Pursuing an Honours year in chemistry was a formative decision for me. It wasn’t until half-way through the third year of my undergraduate degree that I even considered doing Honours. I am so glad that I did chose to do Honours in Sally’s lab.
I learnt more in one year as an Honours student than I did in the three previous years of my degree combined. The group of chemists I worked alongside were all so encouraging. They celebrated small wins and commiserated difficulties with me. The team, led by Sally, made the rigorous work so much more enjoyable and I am grateful to the entire team who helped me through my degree.
The day of my final exam I flew to Melbourne for a job interview with German chemicals company BASF. I am now 10 months into their 18-month GROW Graduate Programme. I spent the first six months at BASF working in a factory where they extract β-carotene from algae. My projects were focussed on process analysis and process improvement. I studied the efficiency of current extraction methods and investigated improvements to the management and recycling of production waste. In my new rotation I’m working in the agriculture department, working to build a database to improve our understanding of the use of crop protection chemicals on-farm. My final rotation will be in environmental health and safety and I’ll be working on the management of manufacturing sites and handling of registered dangerous goods.
A chemistry degree provided me with so many skills beyond an understanding of the world around me. Many of them, I didn’t even notice I was learning. During my time in industry, I’ve noticed a few skills which I think have been particularly valuable to me:
- Objective observation
- Quantification
- Problem solving
- Self-directed learning
- Commitment to completion
Using these skills, I can provide a unique insight into collaborative commercial projects and feel that I am able to make a positive difference to the teams I work with.
I am extremely grateful for the skills, chemical understanding and friendships afforded to me during my time in Sally’s lab. I would strongly encourage any student – particularly women – considering a research degree to absolutely take up the opportunity!
