Job Title: Research Scientist
Company: Own the Podium
Industry: Sport Science
What I Do
I am a research scientist for the snow sports division within Own the Podium, a Winter Olympic preparation program established to optimize Canadian performances at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. I am involved in a very diverse range of initiatives designed to assist Canadian snow sports teams in the upcoming Olympics.
A Day in the Life
My hours are very flexible for eight months out of the season, where I am employed primarily out of the University of British Columbia. From December to the beginning of April, things pick up substantially and work is primarily then based out of the Olympic venues (ie. Whistler, Callaghan Valley, and Cypress Mountain). We interact regularly with other researchers, ski technicians, coaches, and athletes. Due to the confidential nature of the work, I am unable to disclose at this time the specific nature of the projects we are involved in.
Why My Job Is Great
I really enjoy working outdoors and being that I am an avid skier myself, I like working in an area that I have a strong personal interest in.
The Downside
The mornings can get quite cold at 6am on the top of Whistler mountain in January.
Off the Job
My life outside of work primarily involves the outdoors, whether it be downhill mountain biking, climbing, hiking, or kayaking in the summer, to skiing and ski touring during the winter, combined with a bit of hockey when I’m around. I also love traveling. My friends also play a major role in my life but fortunately, we all seem to do the same activities.
Experiences from my Undergrad to Learn From
In high school, I fell in love with fast cars, motorbikes, snowmobiles, etc. and wanted to be involved in this area from a design perspective. Since then, my career has shifted slightly but the science and technology that I find interesting is still very much present.
The Best Part
The best part that I find about being a mechanical engineer is the flexibility one has of being employable in an extremely diverse range of industries. I, myself, have worked in oil transportation, oil extraction in the tar sands, gear and robotics manufacturing, industrial spray coating applications, and now sport science. I also highly expect to be changing my career focus in the near future to clean energy.
My Advice to You
Go for it. If you love science and technology and prefer working with things that move versus things that are stationary (ie. mechanical vs. civil), I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. There are so many industries that mechanical engineers are employed in, it’s almost impossible for one to not find a job that they are truly passionate about.