From DTU to DHI: Got her foot in the door

Job title: Project Engineer, DHI, Environment and Ecological Department

MSc Eng in Aquatic Science and Technology, DTU, 2012
Thesis: A Coral Productivity Model – Ecological, Biological and Hydrodynamic Aspects
BSc in Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute, 2009

What do you do at DHI?

I mainly do ecological modeling to assess the environmental impact of for example large scale marine building projects such as bridges. I have also contributed to several research projects, for example working with the marine biologists to estimate the effects of increased wave action on coral reefs.

What qualifications from your MSc Programme do you value in your work?

The most important skills I use in my everyday work, is the ability to recognize and understand biological processes, and converting them to mathematical equations. Or at least approximate the biology with maths. I have found that this combination of biological, physical and mathematical process understanding is an uncommon but very sought after combination. When I am developing a new model, I need to understand the biological aspects, in order to approximate the system to the mathematical model. When I am working with the models, it is important to understand why these results come up, and if they are correct.

What is the most significant difference between being a student and an employee?

You are expected to deliver a product, which actually works, at a specific deadline. As a student the experiment itself counts as a job well done, but once out of school that´s not the case. It can be a bit overwhelming and hard work, but that’s also part of the fun – creating something, which is immediately useful to a client.

How did you get the job at DHI?

It was a bit of coincidence. I was searching for a student job with DHI DK on their website, but found an advert for an internship with DHI Singapore, which I applied for and got. I therefore took a leave of absence from my studies for six months to do the internship. When I returned to Denmark I finished my MSc in collaboration with DHI. This in turn, led to DHI Singapore offering me a fulltime position, which I had for 15 months. I then decided to return home to Denmark, and after about 6 months back DHI DK offered me a position with the head office.

What advice would you give coming graduates looking for their first job?

Try and get your foot in the door. Even though I ended up in Singapore by chance, getting a network with DHI was the main reason why they employed me both over there and here in Denmark.