Hi, I’m Jennifer!
Here are a few facts about me and why I’m passionate about inspiring and empowering people just like you to explore opportunities in STEM…
My career specialism:
Astrophysicist and Astronomist.
My current role:
I’m presently Chief Technical Officer of River Advisers (formerly ManSat), which provides consulting services on international spectrum regulation, market access, and wrap-around support for the satellite and telecom industry.
I also manage the company’s scholarship programs to provide educational opportunities to students on the Isle of Man.
My career path:
I grew up on the Island and attended Ashley Hill Primary School and St Ninians’s High School.
When I was in Sixth Form I expressed an interest in having a career in the space industry which led to my teachers encouraging me to enter the first ever ManSat competition. The prize was to attend an international space school at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and I won! That experience set me on what has so far been a very exciting career path.
After leaving school I attended the University of St Andrews where I eventually graduated with a Phys (1st Class Hons) in Astrophysics. I really enjoyed university life and was a member of the hockey team and played cello in the chamber orchestra. During my undergraduate years I also gained my Private Pilot Licence.
After graduating, I moved to the USA to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My research interests were fluid dynamics, plasma physics, and the interstellar medium. As part of my scientific training I was lucky to attend many international conferences and publish journal articles about my work.
After completing my PhD in Astronomy, I moved to Japan to become a postdoctoral research fellow at Nagoya University. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of participating in Japan’s scientific society while getting to grips with the language and culture. In addition to my research I enjoyed mentoring and supervising students and teaching English as a foreign language.
Seeking a new challenge, I then joined River Advisers, first being based in London and now in Edinburgh. I am passionate about improving life on Earth through innovative technologies, and am privileged to work with a wide range of clients from all over the world, covering applications including broadband, broadcasting, Earth observation, Internet of Things, maritime tracking, and lunar and deep space missions.
I am delighted to be a Love Tech Mentor, and look forward to supporting students on their career journeys in any way I can.
