Dstl careers: Phillippa, senior principal statistician
Phillippa Spencer talks about her work at Dstl and what it바카라 사이트s been like to be a female mathematician in a male-dominated profession.
Senior Principal Statistician at Dstl - Phillippa Spencer
I always wanted to be scientist. I was aware of great mathematicians such as Alan Turing and of Margaret Hamilton, who did all the coding for the Apollo space program 바카라 사이트 it was ground-breaking and inspiring. Dr Hamiliton was a woman and she was leading the way in her own right. I remember seeing that unusual picture of her among all these men. Just like the conference picture of Marie Curie among the likes of Einstein and Heisenberg.
Working patents
I have three patents 바카라 사이트 which is really unusual for a mathematician! One is for work on the pre-treatment of sepsis 바카라 사이트 which is for the artificial neural network. It바카라 사이트s a complex signature; the human body and its immune system is complicated. It바카라 사이트s not as simple to predict as just one marker will go up and one will down. We needed to map the markers. I work on a number of projects across the lab. My meta-analysis on viral vs bacterial discrimination led to decisions on when it바카라 사이트s a good idea to give out antibiotics or not. We need that for the war-fighter for a more targeted treatment. I바카라 사이트m particularly proud of that as it was a consortium of industry, academia and Dstl. No blood work, it바카라 사이트s a purely maths project.
I am a technical lead in a project called Vulnerabilities, which looks to harden and defend autonomous military systems for deployment. The range of work a statistician and mathematician can do within an S&T organisation is wide and varied. Every piece of work having impact and contributing to UK Defence, it바카라 사이트s what keeps me at Dstl. It바카라 사이트s what motivates me.
Speaking from a maths conference in San Diego, Phillippa added:
I really enjoy my position as a senior mathematician. The benefit of being a senior mathematician is that you help provide and identify opportunities for others and inspire them. I바카라 사이트ve had to fight for some of my opportunities. Putting yourself forward 바카라 사이트 it바카라 사이트s kind of a philosophy of 바카라 사이트don바카라 사이트t ask, don바카라 사이트t get바카라 사이트. I still think: What if I바카라 사이트ve been too pushy? As women, it바카라 사이트s ingrained from a young age. We have a lot of anxiety about being at the front of the stage. As a girl in this world, you have to be confident in yourself and do not let anxiety cripple you; easier said than done.
I바카라 사이트m the lead for the gender equality network so I care very much about promoting equality for men and women in science and in our organisation in general. As a female mathematician, I바카라 사이트m still often the only girl in the room. I didn바카라 사이트t always notice it when I was I was younger. Often I am pushed into the background but I think that바카라 사이트s because maths is seen as something that everyone should be able to do, rather than a discipline in its own right. I바카라 사이트m now in the Cyber Defence Group 바카라 사이트 the group are an amazing support and I바카라 사이트m comfortable in that environment. In an organisation like Dstl, everyone brings something to the party, everyone has something to offer.
Maths as a career
First and foremost, remember that maths takes you everywhere. There isn바카라 사이트t an area of maths and society that maths doesn바카라 사이트t touch. It바카라 사이트s a key to many doors. From GCSE, get your A-level maths under your belt. There are lots of routes into it. Find a degree that works for you 바카라 사이트 whether that바카라 사이트s applied maths or pure maths. I would always recommend people doing a masters, as it gives you an element of freedom and research in maths.
Mathematicians are very much in demand in data, computer science, the financial sector, the world is open to you. I바카라 사이트ve been to Florida to see the F-35 jets, I바카라 사이트ve been to the Pentagon. The things I바카라 사이트ve seen because I chose a career in statistics are amazing and I feel very privileged and very lucky.
Recognition for Phillippa
Since this article was first published, Phillippa has been recognised with an OBE in the 2021 New Year Honours. She also won Woman of the Year at the 2019 Women in Defence awards.
Find out more about working for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and .
Updates to this page
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Updated to add Phillippa's recognition with an OBE.
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First published.