Sports Scientist

Sports scientists require the ability to analyse physical and sporting performance alongside the ability to apply scientific ideas and principles. They work with sports coaches and sports therapists to improve the performance of individuals and teams, work with doctors to help people improve their health through exercise and work with hospitals and other health organisations in areas such as cardiac rehabilitation. When they are not directly working with athletes, sports scientists work on research projects to gather new information on a wide variety of sports-related topics. They use specialist equipment to measure the effects of things such as sports shoes, clothing and nutrition on an athlete’s body and offer advice on the design and manufacture of sports equipment.

Attributes: collaborative, resilient, communicator

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Systems Engineer

Systems engineers design and create systems to meet specific needs by combining and integrating people, components and processes into a whole system and ensuring each of those components work correctly. Systems are used in industrial processes to increase output, but a toilet, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, an automatic iron, a car and even the human body are all systems. Larger systems include moveable bridges, manufacturing plants or the International Space Station.

Attributes: collaborative, imaginative, resilient

Ecologist

Ecologists are concerned with ecosystems as a whole, studying the numbers and distribution of people, plants and animals and how these organisms interact within their habitats. Ecologists usually specialise in a particular environment such as terrestrial, marine or freshwater. They use surveys to identify, monitor and record organisms within an ecosystem and may study the affects of the removal or return of predators over time.

Attributes: collaborative, organised, resilient

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Mechatronic Engineer

Mechatronic engineers combine aspects of both mechanical engineering and robotic engineering into one discipline, called mechatronic engineering. They create smart machines that have an awareness of their surroundings for many different purposes and industries. Mechatronic engineers are involved in the entire development of smart machines, from design and testing to manufacture. Mechatronic engineers may work in a lab, processing plant or engineering office. They may be involved developing in robotics, bio-engineering, nanotechnology or in manufacturing unmanned vehicles or medical machines.

Attributes: imaginative, collaborative, curious

Automotive Engineer

Automotive engineers are involved with the building, designing and testing of cars and motorbikes, as well as other vehicles in the automotive sector such as trucks. They may work on designing and building any part from the body to the chassis underneath the vehicle to the engine systems and the electrical components which go within the vehicle.

Attributes: hard-working, collaborative, observant

Astronaut

Astronauts are trained by different space agencies such as NASA in order to command, pilot or serve as a crew member aboard spacecraft and the International Space Station. While in space, as well as exercising for around two and a half hours a day, astronauts are responsible for maintaining the air filters, oxygen production systems, water and waste disposal systems. They must also replace worn or broken parts of the spacecraft. Astronauts carry out scientific experiments and research while in space and transfer data and reports to Earth via satellite.

Attributes: collaborative, communicative, hard-working

Power Plant Operator

Power plant operators manage and maintain the machinery that generates electricity. This may be produced from hydroelectric energy, solar or wind power, nuclear energy, coal or gas. Power plant operators regulate and distribute the power amongst the generators. They monitor the voltage and electricity flow from the plant to meet fluctuating customer demands throughout the day.

Attributes: observant, self-motivated, collaborative