• Question: What made you want to pursue your field of work?

    Asked by anon-184197 to Tom, sarahhodge, Owen, Nathan, Lorna, Abbie on 5 Nov 2018. This question was also asked by anon-183908, anon-183906, anon-184210.
    • Photo: Nathan Hook

      Nathan Hook answered on 5 Nov 2018:

      After my Computer Science degree, I ended up with a low level office job that wasn’t simulating. I decided to study again, and psychology just came to me, even through I had never done it in school. I think the earlier time in my life when I studied occult topics foreshadowed my interest in it. I brought a big textbook (Hayes, Foundations of Psychology), read through it myself, and then decided to sign up with the Open University to study it part-time alongside work.

    • Photo: Abbie Jordan

      Abbie Jordan answered on 5 Nov 2018:

      Once I switched to a psychology degree I knew that health research was what I wanted to do. In terms of my own pain research, that only happened when my Research Assistant job contract ran out. They are only usually fixed term so typically 12 months or maybe 24 months. I was looking for another job and got an interview with what is now called the Bath Centre for Pain Reseach along with others. I was not particularly interested in pain. I went along and found the people interviewing me so enthusiastic and engaging. I knew then that I wanted to work in that area. I loved it so much I then did a PhD in the area and then the rest is history as they say. I love the fact that my research has a clinical element and I get to work with patients and also clinicians. To me, that makes a real difference and that’s what motivates me.

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