Profile
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Andrew Jackson
Dreamy nighty sleepy snoozy bye bye time
My CV
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Education:
Rathfarnham Parish National School (1985-1992), The High School Rathgar (1992-1993), Newtown School Waterford (1993-1997), Trinity College Dublin (1997-2001), University of Glasgow (2002-2006)
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Qualifications:
I have a degree in general science specialising in Zoology (animal biology) from Trinity College Dublin B.A. Mod. and a Doctorate in Philosophy (which is a mark of my ability conduct scientific research) from University of Glasgow, Scotland Ph.D. for my research into why and how animals live in groups.
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Work History:
I have worked in the Medical Research Council in the UK researching about how where you live affects your health (2005-2006). I worked in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Trinity College with engineers interested in how bone has evolved to be a strong, light and reparable skeleton (2005-2006). I got my current job as Assistant Professor in Trinity College Dublin in 2007 and have been here happily since.
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Current Job:
I am an Assistant Professor in Ecology and Evolutoin which means I am responsible for both teaching and research at my university.
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I work in the old Zoology (study of animals) building in Trinity College, which is a nice and inspiring place to work knowing how many scientists from previous generations worked and thought about the living world before me.
I have my own office, and I also have a research office where my PhD students and other researchers work on the projects I invented.
The teaching part of my work involves standing up in front of between 20 and 250 students to give lectures and talks on various aspects of animal ecology and evolution. I also conduct research by working with a team of individuals on specific projects. These people are usually postgraduate students who have finished their degrees and are continuing their study to get a PhD which is a mark of research ability and endeavour. Aside from that, academics also tend to run the University so I have jobs that are called “administrative roles” that involve me helping others to apply for money to employ PhD students or to conduct research projects, as well as designing new courses for students to attend.
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My Typical Day
I cycle in to work for 9 o’clock, then depending on the time of year do a mix of teaching, research and attend meetings before cycling home again around 5pm.
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My normal day is pretty standard and is a combination of reading, writing, thinking, computer programming and meetings with students and colleagues. However, the content is hugely varied on a day-to-day basis.
Questions we are currently thinking about in my group:
Why are humans so intelligent and social?
Do small animals experience the passage of time faster than larger animals?
How do vultures find food as a group?
Can we fish more carefully and have less of a negative impact on the other species that live in the seas?
Why do some animals live longer than others?
Working with my students is one of the parts of my work I love the most. It’s really great fun to sit and chat about new ideas about why animals evolved certain characteristics such as the ability to see fast moving objects really clearly when other animals don’t care if the world whizzes by them.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Excitable, Nerdy, Chaotic.
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a virologist, which is someone who studies viruses. In particular I wanted to work in a special closed off suit called a HazMat suit and work on the very deadly Ebola Virus.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really, but I did get caught up in some over-the-top celebrations after my junior certificate results came out. A lot of us got in a lot of trouble.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Nine Inch Nails / Trent Reznor
What is the most fun thing you've done?
ever? – doing research in Uganda Africa on army ants which was truly inspiring…. and most recently? – mountain biking, it was so fast and dangerous, I loved it!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1) to have superpowers like wolverine. 2) have a really nice mountain bike (im hooked), 3) to publish my science research in the magazine “Nature” (very prestigious!)
Tell us a joke.
Whats brown and sticky?…. a stick (my favourite joke, if only because every time i hear it i think of something gross first)
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