In the new year, IGRAC has welcomed a new staff member to its team. On the first of January 2021, Christina Fraser has started her new job as Researcher. In the interview below, she tells more about her academic background, work experience and her motivation to join IGRAC.
What is your academic background?
"I completed a PhD in 2020 at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, that focused on transboundary aquifer assessment and management in Malawi. Previous to this, I completed a MSc in Hydrogeology at the University of Strathclyde and a BSc in Geology-Petroleum Geology at the University of Aberdeen."
What is your work experience?
"Alongside my PhD, I worked as a Teaching Assistant on the Hydrogeology masters course at the University of Strathclyde. In 2018 I took a break from my PhD to work as a Research Assistant on a project focused on conjunctive transboundary water management within the Shire River Basin shared between Malawi and Mozambique in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute and SADC-GMI. I also currently serve as an associate committee member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists Transboundary Aquifer Commission."
Why did you apply at IGRAC?
"I have been collaborating with some of the IGRAC team over the past year through the IAH Transboundary Aquifer Commission. When I came to the end of my PhD, I did some consultancy work for IGRAC and it was a natural progression to join the team full time! Saying that, I have known that I would like to work for IGRAC for a while now. The international reach of the projects we take on and IGRAC’s position as a global groundwater center was really attractive in terms of being in a position to make a real difference within the field of groundwater assessment and management."
What do you expect from your time at IGRAC?
"I hope to learn a lot and put my skills to good use. I am looking forward to continuing my research on transboundary aquifers but shifting to the regional and international scale. I also hope to broaden my groundwater experience in general and learn more about groundwater monitoring and water quality. I am particularly excited to work with the team at IGRAC. A PhD can be lonely and it will be nice to have colleagues to bounce ideas off and learn from."