Impact is a big part of my role, which often involves working with practitioners and policymakers. with the UK Data Service has definitely helped prepare me for this. For the next step in my research career, I am starting a new role as an Evaluation Analyst in the NHS, where I’ll be able to combine my experiences of data and impact work to help improve health outcomes.
Tasos Papastylianou, Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
I was very fortunate to be part of the Data Impact Fellows scheme. Through the scheme, I had the opportunity to meet with a diverse group of early career academics, with backgrounds indonesia rcs data and research topics that were very different to mine, but facing similar data challenges, and even looking at similar data. Some of the connections made through this scheme have already opened new avenues for collaboration which I am now actively pursuing. Beyond helping me expand my network with keen, interdisciplinary collaborators, the scheme also included organised sessions aimed at identifying and making the best use of available data, which were very useful and interesting.
I was also very grateful for the financial award that accompanied the scheme, as this allowed me to attend an important conference in my field without worrying about the financial aspects involved. In general, the scheme helped me appreciate more the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of data, and encouraged me to look for opportunities for collaboration beyond one’s narrow field of research and preconceived areas of impact. I would encourage anyone who is eligible for the scheme to apply.