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Calibration Scientist
Calibration Scientist
Connor McGurk
Connor McGurk
What is your job title?
Earth Observation Instrumentalist
What qualifications do you have?
MEarthSci (Integrated Masters in Earth Sciences)
What advice or extra information do you wish you'd had before starting this career?
Don't be afraid to not know all the answers – because on large and complex problems, it's likely that no one person does yet.
What do you do in your role?
We calibrate satellites before their launch, then validate and process data whilst they are in orbit (and sometimes years afterwards, where they contribute to climate records). We also develop technologies to improve future missions and apply them on the ground when we get the opportunity.
What formal qualifications and/or previous work experience did you need to get your job?
My first summer placement at RAL came from a direct link to my degree - I'd worked on volcanic lightning and there was a project related to taking in-situ measurements of volcanic ash. That placement led on to my current role.
What sort of organisation do you work for?
RAL Space is the UK’s national space laboratory with over 60 years of involvement in space missions. We’re involved with everything from very early-stage technology development, through to assembly, integration, and test of space hardware, as well as satellite tracking and looking after the huge amounts of data coming from climate satellites.
"The day that I see the launch of a rocket that's got my equipment on it, that would be really cool to see."
"The day that I see the launch of a rocket that's got my equipment on it, that would be really cool to see."
Do you travel, either within the UK or overseas, in your role? How often?
Three times this year I've travelled for field campaigns, collecting imagery on farms around the UK. There also tend to be good opportunities for me to present our work at conferences a couple of times a year, either in the UK or further afield.
Do you work a regular length day/week, or are shifts involved?
Typically, I'd work a regular week, but when we have an instrument being tested under vacuum, we may operate it continuously and switch to a shift pattern.
"The work we do is all going towards solving important problems."
"The work we do is all going towards solving important problems."
What do you enjoy about your job?
A big motivator for me is that the work we do is all going towards solving important problems – like better understanding weather and climate changes so that we are better able to adapt to them.
What opportunities do you have for developing your skills in your current role?
I learn something new with every project we do, because our work crosses disciplines and brings me into conversations with people who've spent their careers working in entirely different fields.
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