Career Profile

Name: Ingrid

Role Title: SIT (Sterile Insect Technique) Officer, Catchment and Agriculture Services, Plant Standards

Location: DPI Tatura

Description of work: Ingrid is responsible for the day to day operations involved in rearing and releasing sterile fruit flies during the release season. This consists of several activities including: receival of sterile pupa, housing pupa until emergence as adult fruit flies, handling of adult flies for release in chosen locations, and identification of sterile flies on recapture. She also assists with other Plant Standards duties such as auditing of businesses on ICA (Interstate Certification Assurance) arrangements. Ingrid travels to other Plant Standards Centres around the state including Melbourne, Bendigo and Mildura for training, meetings and fieldwork.

Course studied
Tertiary / post secondary: Ingrid completed science subjects in years 11 and 12 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Maths Methods), and then went on to complete a Bachelor of Science at Monash University Clayton, majoring in Zoology and Conservation Biology. She then completed an additional Honours year in small mammal ecology.

Advice to students:
Students up to Year 10: Try to focus on the subjects that you enjoy, as ultimately these are subjects you will perform better in.

VCE students: Don't just focus on the larger universities when choosing a degree. There are many smaller universities and institutions in rural locations that offer high quality degrees, particularly in agricultural and environmental sciences.

Tertiary students: When applying for jobs, broaden your search to rural locations. There are a number of regional centres such as DPI in Tatura that offer challenging careers in science and research whilst providing you with a more relaxed lifestyle.

What careers have other graduates from Ingrid's course entered? Graduates of my course have entered various careers, some have begun PhDs and have continued into research. A number have since completed a Diploma of Education and now teach science subjects. Others have jobs with environmental firms, government departments such as DSE and DPI or work at places such as the Melbourne Aquarium or Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.