Name: Cherie
Role Title: Research Scientist
Location: Werribee

Description of work undertaken:
Cherie undertakes pig nutrition research. Her experimental work includes pig feeding studies. Activities may include weighing, taking blood and/or tissue samples and body composition measurements using the DXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometer). Once the animal experiment is finished there is often laboratory analysis of the blood/ tissue samples. Once all the data has been collected Cherie has to statistically analyse and interpret the results, then write up the final reports or papers.

Team and / or individual role / responsibilities:
Cherie's primary roles/responsibilities at the moment are for the experiments related to her PhD studies. As a member of the research team at Werribee she undertakes pig nutrition experiments to assist the sustainability of the Australian pork industry. The research team also carries out experiments using the pig as a model for human nutrition.

Future:
Cherie is currently finalising her PhD. Once submitted she hopes to continue working within the Australian pork industry.

Background
Grew Up Where:
Cherie grew up in Knoxfield. Although she grew up in the city, Cherie has relatives on farms that she visited regularly. This provided her with an initial interest in agriculture.

STUDIES:
Tertiary /post secondary:
Bachelor of Agricultural Science, La Trobe University.

Secondary:
Science subjects in years 11 and 12 – Biology, Chemistry, Maths Methods and Physics.

Work experience:
Throughout Cherie’s degree she had to complete 12 weeks work experience on several different enterprises. Cherie spent time on a dairy farm in Gippsland and a fruit orchard in Swan Hill and about 4 weeks working with scientists at the Department of Primary Industries office in Knoxfield. In the final year of her degree Cherie spent several weeks working at Ridley Agriproducts in Pakenham to gain an understanding of the commercial stock feed industry.

Opportunities
Learning on job, new skills, etc.
Starting with the Department of Primary Industries in her Graduate Program enabled Cherie to complete a large range of training courses within her first two years of employment. Upon finishing in the Graduate program, Cherie commenced a PhD which provided many training opportunities. She was able to develop skills in conducting laboratory analysis of blood and tissue samples, while still improving her animal husbandry skills. Most of the training during this period has been on-the-job.

Travel:
In 2005 Cherie was fortunate to spend 5 months working at the University of Missouri, USA. This was an amazing experience that allowed her to develop new skills and make contacts working in pig nutrition from around the world.

Cherie’s job also enables travel to conferences etc to present research findings.

Advice to Students Now:
Students up to Year 10
Don't stress about careers too much yet. Do the subjects you enjoy, and keep your options open. You will probably change you mind several times about what career you would like to pursue.

VCE students
Consider all options. Depending on what you want to do, university may not have all the answers. Look at TAFE, apprenticeships etc. Do VCE subjects that keep your options open.

Tertiary students
Try and undertake as much work experience as you can. This will give you an idea of the type of work that you might like to gain employment in when you finish your degree. It will also give you valuable contacts / referees that you can use when job hunting.

Other:
What careers have other graduates from your course entered?
Many work for DPI (or equivalent in other states) in a variety of roles – policy, animal health, animal welfare, plant standards, animal industry extension officers, research scientists. Teachers – primary and secondary. Working for rural water authorities. Private consulting/ sales representatives – fertiliser, dairy, seed, stockfeed companies. Rural loan advisers in major banks. Microbiologist