Sarah Ashworth was the first in her family to go to university after receiving a contextualised offer in recognition of her achievement. She studied pathology and microbiology at Bristol University and remembers the benefits she gained from a Nuffield Foundation placement. She also talks about working in water quality control for AstraZeneca in her industrial placement year and her PhD research work on 'plastic eating fungi' which has been back in the news very recently.

Interested in environmental science and environmental consulting, Sarah volunteered with Groundwork UK before taking what she thought would be a temporary post as a careers advisor for the University of Manchester. After recognising this was her niche, Sarah has been using her knowledge as a researcher, supervisor and scientist throughout the last two decades as she helps postgraduate students and PhD researchers - as well as others - fulfil their aims and find their own pathways to a satisying career.

More information:

University of Manchester

Groundwork UK

Nuffield Foundation Placements

Also mentioned:

UK Government study in the UK

The Life Scientific podcast with Jim Al-Khalili

Fungi in concrete at Chernobyl

Plastic eating fungi

Each episode of ProGRESS features podcast host and long-time journalist Sandra Kessell in conversation with people working, teaching and learning in Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible sectors (the GRESS of ProGRESS). Guests talk about how they got where they are and pass on their ideas for following in their footsteps.

But young, old, or in mid-career you don’t have to be looking for a new direction to enjoy a good story and ProGRESS aims to inspire and entertain while offering greener, more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible ways of thinking, working, studying, training and living.

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Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

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