Nottingham Trent University STEM degrees can lead to great careers

Nottingham Trent University's (NTU) successes are powered by its people and their ability to shape, create and innovate, wherever they work, and whatever they’re doing. NTU has many great STEM degrees to study that lead to rewarding and impactful careers.

Meet Juliana Eniraiyetan, a Data Consultant with Rockborne. After studying a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry at NTU, and continuing on to complete an MRes in Pharmaceutical Analysis, NTU Alumni Fellow Juliana is a committee member of the Black Women in Science Network.

Here, Juliana discusses her career so far and shares why she is passionate about raising the visibility of Black women working in science.

Where has your career taken you since graduating from NTU?

"After graduating from my Research Masters, it took me roughly three months to find a role in the pharmaceutical industry (as a QC Chemist at a radiopharmaceutical company.) I had limited prior knowledge of radiopharmaceuticals and was excited to learn and be impactful within the role. It was a unique experience, within a wonderful team and I learned how my work in this niche area was instrumental to healthcare diagnostics," says Juliana.

"Over time, I became really interested in how data impacted the healthcare world and after three years as a QC chemist, I have moved into a data-centred role. This has been a positive yet unexpected turn, but I invite the unknown ahead and have my sights set on making even more contributions to the healthcare industry," Juliana adds.

What does a typical day look like for you?

"I have recently started my new data role, which has an extensive training period to take me through all the skills and software I’ll need to thrive in a data-led environment. At present my days are centred around grasping these skills and putting them to practise in projects. You never really stop learning after university!," comments Juliana.

Outside of her day job, Juliana is a Committee Member for The Black Women in Science Network (BWiS). She is responsible for organizing events that support and empower Black women throughout their scientific careers.

What was your motivation for taking on your role at BWiS?

"My motivation for taking this role was to promote visibility; it is so important for Black women in the Science sector to know and connect with each other. A way to accomplish this is to host events that serve this community and enrich their experiences of engaging in science, whether academically or professionally," explains Juliana.

"As a Black woman with a science background myself, I have a necessary, unique perspective that allows me to curate the best experience for this demographic of amazing women."

Why do you feel that the work of BWiS is important?

"This work is important because it has been attested (and also personally experienced) that there are not many other Black women in this space. The underrepresentation often creates feelings of isolation and can lead to Black women no longer feeling this space is for them even if they have the amazing innovative mind their scientific discipline needs. The BWiS Network hopes to affirm Black women by making safe spaces for them to share, be heard, connect and receive whatever support they need to thrive from connecting with other Black women," says Juliana.

What have been your recent highlights at BWiS, and what is coming up next?

"The BWiS Network recently hosted their ‘Celebrating You’ event in October which was a resounding success. Another upcoming event is the BWiS Brunch Talks Live in Cambridge on Saturday 11th March 2023. This is the first in-person iteration of the Brunch Talks virtual space which was created by the Network in 2021 specifically for Black Women to share everything from successes and struggles to our favourite products and places to visit," recalls Juliana.

Juliana is committed to supporting others to succeed; as well as her role with BWiS she is also an NTU Alumni Fellow. She has given her time to mentor three students taking part in NTU’s RISE programme, a mentoring scheme that supports disadvantaged students to progress onto graduate level employment.

How did you find mentoring current NTU students?

"It was humbling to share my experiences with the three students I was assigned as part of the RISE programme. They show promise and drive to have a career within the sciences, and I affirmed their hope that it is possible to achieve this. I probably enjoyed the interviews more than the students because it made my career journey so far feel valuable to someone else besides me!," Juliana concludes.