What first attracted you to IFS?

While studying at UCL, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in something that allowed me to take forward the things that I had learnt at university. Many of my lecturers also worked at the IFS, and many papers produced by the Institute featured in my applied modules. This inspired me to do a little more research, and soon discovered that the areas in which the IFS worked in were ones that really interested me.

Which projects are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a number of projects in a range of areas. This includes looking at the determinants of energy efficiency in the home, and the impact of recent NHS reforms on public healthcare in the UK. I have also had the opportunity to work on projects outside the UK, and I am currently involved in the latter stages of the evaluation of a social security programme in Latin America.

What kind of things do you do during a typical day at work?

Activities vary greatly depending on the projects that I am working on. In general, large parts of my day are spent working with data on statistical software such as Stata. A great deal of time is also spent discussing work with other members of staff and producing written outputs in order to disseminate the findings of our work to a large audience. I also regularly attend the seminars organised by IFS.

What do you particularly enjoy about the job?

I enjoy the fact that I get to work on topics that I find interesting every day. This is made even better by the setting in which this takes place – surrounded by people who are passionate about their work, extremely knowledgeable and always willing to discuss ideas and problems.

How has your career progressed so far at IFS?

I have only been at IFS for a year, yet I have learnt a great deal already - something I expect to continue!

What have you learned from working here?

In my first year I have learnt many things. This includes programming with Stata and techniques for writing for a range of different audiences, in both a policy and academic setting. I have also learnt about collecting and using survey data, spending two weeks in Uganda last summer piloting surveys for my work as part of the Evaluation of Developing Policies (EDePo) department.

How would you describe the working environment?

The working environment is friendly and relaxed. People are always willing to help you and discuss work regardless of how senior they are. This makes you feel like a valued part of the team from day one, and contributes significantly to making the IFS a very enjoyable place to work.