Laura Forsström is a Science Adviser in the Biosciences and Environment Research Unit at the Academy of Finland. She has a Ph.D. in hydrobiology from the University of Helsinki (2007) and worked as a post-doctoral researcher during 2007-2013, focusing on carbon flux and the role of organic matter in arctic freshwater ecosystems. Her field work covered Finnish Lapland, Komi Region in Russia, NE Greenland and Northern Quebec, Canada. She has also worked as a Senior Officer at Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Uusimaa, Finland, and as a Conservation Officer at WWF.
Laura is a member of the Freshwater Expert Network of CAFF’s Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme and has been a visiting teacher at Arctic Winter Limnology field course in Svalbard, The University Centre in Svalbard, for several years.
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1. What are the primary responsibilities and tasks in your current job?
As a Science Adviser at the Academy of Finland (www.aka.fi/en), my main task is to prepare, present and execute funding decisions made by the Research Council for Biosciences and Environment. Specifically, I take care of the applications for Postdoctoral Researcher posts together with my colleagues. Science Advisers give guidance to applicants, check the eligibility of each applicant/application, organize the international evaluation panels where the applications are rated, work together with the Research Council and communicate with researchers in all kinds of practical matters during their funding period. I am also involved with one of the Joint Programming Initiatives launched by the European Commission and nationally coordinated by the Academy of Finland, namely Water JPI, “Water challenges for a changing world” (http://www.waterjpi.eu/ ). As part of the Water JPI activities we are now for example planning an international conference to be held in Helsinki in June 2018. Additionally, my days are filled with all kinds of general tasks related to science policy, reporting, planning and stakeholder activities. -
2. How did you get this position?
Technically the process was very traditional: I applied for the open position, was invited for the interview and was the lucky one who got the job. If I think of the skills and experience I have that led to the decision, a PhD degree from a relevant field was the first requirement. In addition, I have 7-years of experience as a post-doctoral researcher and have both applied and received funding from the Academy of Finland, so I knew both the organization and the application process beforehand. During my previous position as Conservation Officer at WWF Finland I had coordinated a large and demanding application process for EU Life Climate funding, showing not only that I have experience from EU-level funding instruments, but also that I am capable of running complex tasks that involve several partners and have a strict deadline. I was also never “just” a researcher, but tried to be active in e.g. teaching and several positions of trust. -
3. Had you always intended to pursue a non-academic career? If not, what led you to it?
I enjoyed doing research and was passionate about working with arctic lakes and doing field work in the Arctic, so I was hoping to be able to keep going and become an established scientist. However, I was not able to get funding after my post-docs and no relevant positions were opening as Universities were merely cutting down their personnel in Finland as well as internationally. Unfortunately, there are very few possibilities to pursue research after postdoc, which was why I started to actively develop a plan B. In my current position, I get a chance to follow science and science policy very closely and find it extremely interesting and rewarding.
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4. What would you have done differently to be better prepared for your current position? Which choices in the past were successful?
I don’t believe in second-guessing and don’t want to point out anything that I should have done differently, as all the choices I made seemed best possible at that time. It is not easy for a biologist to find a relevant job outside research, so a choice not to give up rises as one of the very important ones. Having a mentor might have been good, but I got a lot of support from my peers who were in the same situation. -
5. Do you have any advice for working towards this career?
Even if you receive funding through a PhD grant or a project run by others, ask to be involved in preparing applications for research funding and get yourself familiar with both national and international funding organizations and calls. Attend workshops, briefings, conferences and other types of events held outside universities: e.g. ministries, NGOs, companies and institutes organize interesting, and often free, events. Once you’re there, talk to people: ask about their career, ask about their organization and prospects on their field. Be open to possibilities outside the academia and consider also an internship if such positions are available. If doing research was your dream, give yourself time to process the disappointment of not being able to continue, you need genuine motivation for your plan B to actually work! If you wish to work in a NGO, all activities towards popularization of science, outreach and public engagement are useful. Volunteer-experience is an advantage as it tells about your values and helps in networking. Good communication skills are essential, as you should be able to handle tv and radio interviews and public events. Blogging is a very good way of showcasing your skills and interests. Finally, re-write your CV as the academic CV format doesn’t get you very far.