Employment after studying at the Business School and what is your current position?
After my Ph.D. (2014) at Imperial, I joined University College London (UCL) as a Teaching Fellow in Economics. A year later, I stayed at UCL, but moved onto the UCL Energy Institute as a Research Associate in Energy Economics. I am currently a Research Co-Investigator on a major energy storage project funded by the EPSRC. I am in charge of the economics of energy storage in this project. This is a multi-disciplinary project, as typical in the field of energy research.
Why did you choose to study your programme and why specifically at Imperial College Business School?
I joined Imperial College as a Ph.D. student in energy economics and was funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The reason why I chose Imperial is because it enjoys a world-class reputation in research. I’m very sure that the success I achieved so far reflects the superior quality of Imperial’s Ph.D. programme. In fact, I was followed by a very good supervisor, who is a renowned professor, and have therefore published on different top journals during my time at Imperial.
What advice would you give to a prospective student considering studying the same programme as you?
Simply to go for it. Imperial is an internationally highly recognised research institution. Having a Ph.D. from Imperial is something that will always stay with you, both in terms of the learning experience you will have during those years, as well as the success you will enjoy as a result of your diploma. The best advice I can give is to enjoy every single moment, and learn from any encounter with people, since there are many bright minds out there. In addition, it might be worth remembering that one must publish well to have a good Ph.D!
How did you find living in London?
London is a busy city, sometimes stressful. However, the academic environment allows one to manage his/her own time. Workloads are huge if you want to succeed, but a city like London can also be a great place to take some time off. It is great for a number of reasons, not least for the diversity of the people’s cultural background, the many job opportunities and prospects, and its liveliness. Plus it’s definitely a beautiful city!
What was the Business School community like?
A very well established research community. Full of bright people to learn from.
What do you enjoy most about your work and what are the main challenges that you face?
My current work involves research. I’m currently working on a large research project, which requires me to produce a number of papers per year on a given topic. The main part is to make an impact on policy decisions. This is a continuous process of learning, doing research, publishing, discussing your work with other scholars and policymakers, attending and speaking at conferences, workshops, and so on. One of the most thrilling parts of this process, I think, is to write your own research projects and secure funding for these, which will enable you to carry out your personally desired research agenda, which is where things get particularly exciting. It is a thrilling environment.
In what way is remaining connected to your alumni network important to you?
Remaining connected to Imperial’s alumni network is key to maintaining relationships with people you might otherwise lose contact with. Imperial’s alumni network is an important way of staying in contact with bright people and maintaining relationships. Networking is one of the key drivers of success.