ROle Models
DAISY SHEARER
Job Title: Physics postgraduate researcher & experimental quantum physicist
Disability: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Why did you want to work in STEM?
I have always been a very curious person, as most scientists are. My parents are both veterinarians and my dad has a PhD in small animal immunology so asking questions about science was always encouraged in our household, as was learning and critical thinking in general. I had a creative flair and considered becoming an artist for a long time (which my parents fully supported). That was until one chemistry lesson when I was around 14 when I became hooked on physics and I haven't looked back. We were learning about atoms and electron orbitals and this concept of 'electron spin' came up. I asked my chemistry teacher to explain it in more detail, but she said I should ask a physics teacher. So I did! Since then applied quantum physics has been one of my long-term special interests so it's not all that surprising that the field I am now a researcher in (called 'spintronics') is all about understanding and controlling electron spin. So really, my desire to work in STEMM is due to interest and passion more than anything. I enjoy being a researcher particularly as I find it is incredibly creative as I need to find new ways to study the physical world by proposing new experiments and understanding them. Every day I go to work wondering what I will discover next and I have the freedom to follow my curiosity in any direction it takes me (within the scope of my project!)
What’s your favourite thing about your job or about working in STEM?
I adore how interdisciplinary my field is! I get to work with people from all facets of STEM from mathematicians to engineers to chemists and we're all working together to push the boundaries of technological advancement to make the world better. The ultimate aim of my research is to contribute to the effort to build a scalable, widely manufacturable quantum computer whose processing power could help us solve lots of important problems.
I also like how creative being a researcher is as well as the variety of day-to-day activities I get to do. As an experimentalist, I get lots of time in the lab using all sorts of interesting equipment to measure quantum mechanical phenomena (including lasers and a huge superconducting magnet). I also spend a lot of time fabricating devices which requires materials engineering skills. Once I have collected data, I need to analyse it which often requires me to write a program and I also do a lot of theoretical modelling to understand my findings from a mathematical standpoint which means more coding!
Working in STEMM means that you are able to make a difference to people's lives every day, in your own little way.
What are your top tips for a disabled young person interested in STEM as a career?
Don't give up. You might come across people who do not think you are suited for STEM but they're wrong. If you want to be in STEM, you can and should be! We need passionate people in all STEM fields and diversity of thought and creativity is so important for producing good work. If you can, build a support network. This can be official such as getting DSAs and being in contact with your disability services or more casual like seeking out mentors who inspire you and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It can be hard to find other disabled people in STEMM, but good allies can help you self-advocate and thrive!
What advantages has your disability given you in your field?
I truly believe that being autistic is a big part of why I am a good scientist. My brain is primed for logical and rational thinking as well as pattern recognition which can be very useful when analysing and interpreting large data sets! It also gives me precision, heightened perception and attention to detail as well as determination and creativity. Sometimes having a brain that's 'wired' differently can be a real asset when it comes to problem-solving and coming up with new hypotheses as we tend to think 'outside the box' and question everything. We stick out but I think that's a good thing!
Don't let anyone persuade you that your disability means that you can't pursue your dreams.