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Hydrogeologist (Engineering)

I remember always being conscious and appreciative of the natural world around me from a very early age. However, it was when I was studying for my GCSEs that a lecturer from a local college visited the school that I attended and informed us about studying earth sciences. I was so inspired by the lecturer’s enthusiasm for the topic, and the expanse of fascinating subject matter that I became instantly hooked!

I went on to study Geology BSc at University College London, which I absolutely adored. I was fortunate enough to be able to pick a module in hydrogeology, which gave me a general overview of the discipline. After graduating from my undergraduate degree I knew I wanted to specialise further in a geological field, so I decided to gain a year of practical experience in industry to determine if hydrogeology was the right career path for me. I gained employment at a consultancy within a contaminated land department. Working within the hydrogeology team helped me to decide that going on to undertake an MSc in hydrogeology was the right decision.

I then went on to study an MSc in Hydrogeology at the University of Birmingham; my MSc thesis was entitled "Real-time observation of DNAPL TCE migration through a chalk fracture using positron emission tomography".

I returned to the consultancy that I had worked for during my gap year and up until now I have written and contributed to a variety of technical reports, including desk studies, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), qualitative and quantitative controlled waters, human health and ground gas risk assessments, and waste classification studies, as well as gaining practical experience in supervising site investigation works and groundwater, vapour and ground gas monitoring.

Within this time I also spent two years working within the Enabling Works team on a large scale construction project in East London as a remediation specialist which involved responding to remediation queries and undertaking supervision of remedial works across the site. Liaising with the contractor and the client became a large part of my role, and I attended meetings with them on a regular basis. I also provided technical support on groundwater remediation related tasks. In addition, I co-ordinated the supervision of invasive species works and managed the borehole permitting process that deals with the decommissioning, protection and drilling of groundwater monitoring locations across the site.

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