We bring you the career stories of ANNT members to give you insight into the wide range of possible career paths and broaden your vision of STEM professions.
Today we travel to Norway and read the story written for us by Rialda Spahić:
"My name is Rialda Spahić, I am 27 years old and I currently work as a researcher, a Ph.D. candidate, in the field of engineering cybernetics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). I took up this position two years ago, putting on hold my previous position as an IT analyst in the software innovation sector of a global energy company, Equinor, in Norway.
As part of my PhD, I investigate the reliability of artificial intelligence methods in autonomous systems, such as underwater drones, which are responsible for recognising hazards or dangerous phenomena during the inspection of structures on oil platforms. My days consist of reading literature, talking to industry, writing and testing code, and writing research papers. I think the best part of this job is that I learn something new every day and that my task is to identify current challenges in industry and find answers to those challenges through creative engineering solutions.
It is particularly exciting to reach conclusions you can write a research paper about and submit to various conferences and journals, and to travel to scientific conferences and network with like-minded colleagues. My doctoral project is a fusion of several disciplines: risk analysis, inspection of subsea installations on oil platforms and, of course, robotics and artificial intelligence. Because of this, I often talk to experts from domains outside my own and read literature in order to better understand the needs of industry and get closer to solutions.
I consider Norway to be a very advanced country, especially in the domain of underwater robotics and ocean operations, and working in these disciplines would probably be more difficult in Bosnia and Herzegovina given how little these disciplines are represented in our country.
Since I took a “break” from my previous position at Equinor to do a PhD at NTNU, and since my PhD is funded by Equinor, with whom I also collaborate on solutions, I plan to return to Equinor's research centre after my PhD and work in the new technologies and innovation sector. An important part of this job is knowing how far technology has come, what is possible and, even more importantly, imagining the future of technology that is almost within our reach and how that technology will solve our problems. I find it amusing to say that part of my job may even sound like “science fiction”, with robots performing difficult tasks and replacing employees in dangerous locations or during difficult and hazardous operations.
Although I chose the science track in secondary school, at the First Gymnasium in Sarajevo, I decided in my final year to study computer science. I think my fascination with “technologies of the future”, together with a love of video games, deepened my desire for these studies. I studied for a Bachelor's and a Master's in Computer Science and Engineering at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS). During my master's studies I already experienced writing my first research papers, and I wanted to work with future technologies. I researched companies that are secure and work intensively on emerging technologies, and that is how I came to apply for a job at Equinor, which has large sectors for research and development of technologies for safer operations, such as AR technology and robotics.
Since I had not come across companies of this kind in Bosnia, I decided to try my luck in the north. Fortunately for me, I was given a position at Equinor in the software innovation sector, working on applications for offshore wind turbines and developing applications for aerial drones that carry out inspections on platforms. I remember it was early October when I applied for the job, submitted my documents and transcripts, took intelligence, psychology and programming tests, had a couple of interviews with IT managers, and travelled to an all-day interview at Equinor's business centre in Stavanger. That day consisted of interviews about my previous experience and questions about my interest in the company, after which I worked in a team with other candidates on tasks, and at the end I had to present my creative ideas for projects that would be of interest to the industry. At the end of January, after my referees had been contacted to confirm my experience, I received a call and a job offer. Honestly, the news was incredible to me, because there were over ten thousand applicants for positions at the same company. My PhD application, two and a half years later, consisted of writing a research proposal for the project, an interview in which I explained what I would do and how if I got the position, and a presentation of my previous experience and understanding of the current challenges in the industry.
I believe that large companies are looking for creative young people who work well in teams and show the potential and ambition to work on themselves and learn, and that these are the only criteria in job applications, especially for research positions. In Norway a PhD is considered a job, so I receive a full researcher's salary, and the costs of the PhD are covered by Equinor through a full scholarship. In general, though, university studies in Norway are free, and most students have student jobs as part of or alongside their studies. Most often, students of computer and related sciences in Norway do paid internships during their studies.
I recommend that current students follow Graduateland.com, where they can find various job postings and applications for young people around the world. My advice is to work on standing out from the crowd, because the competition is fierce and you want your CV in particular to stand out; read about other people's experiences, go on exchanges and explore as much and as early as possible, so that you don't miss application deadlines for scholarships, internships or jobs. The period of choosing a profession is very stressful and intense; it is important to find something that genuinely interests you, so that it will be easier when you work happily and have a passion for your profession."
