Building on presentation skills: Dr Bernard Field at the American Physical Society’s March Meeting, the biggest annual conference in physics
Bernard Field was one of the earliest of FLEET PhD students, joining the Centre in 2018 originally as an Honours student, then a PhD student in 2019 under Agustin Schiffrin and Nikhil Medhekar. His PhD research focused on correlated electrons in a frustrated 2D lattice, within FLEET’s theme 1. We interviewed Bernard about his career path after leaving FLEET (he completed his PhD in March 2023), and how he has used public speaking at Centre workshops and outreach events in his new position as a postdoc at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab near San Francisco.
Questions are by FLEET training coordinator Jason Major and Communications Chair Kirrily Rule.
FLEET: What role did you take after you completed your PhD in FLEET?
Bernard: After finishing my PhD, I moved to the USA for a postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
FLEET: How do you think the training and knowledge you received in FLEET has set you up for your current role?
Bernard: FLEET helped me feel like I was part of something bigger than just my personal research. It provided a grander context to place my research into, namely the quest for more efficient electronics. It encouraged me to learn more about broader physics research through seminars and the annual workshops.
FLEET provided an important network in a time of restricted travel. The vast majority of scientists I made connections with throughout my PhD were FLEET researchers.
And FLEET workshops helped me to build confidence in attending and presenting at conferences.
“A little experience in experimental sciences pays off” helping make liquid N2 ice-cream at the Molecular Foundry’s family day.
FLEET: What is your fondest memory of your time in FLEET?
Bernard: I also did some fantastic scientific outreach activities with FLEET, namely at Melbourne Knowledge Week, Monash Open Day, and at a local primary school. It was great to have this opportunity to share my passion for physics with the general public. And it taught me about talking about physics to a general audience.
These skills of communicating with a general audience, connecting with scientists in different disciplines, and placing my research within the big picture are helpful in my continued work in academia.
Thanks Bernard for sharing your experiences! FLEET is extremely proud of those members who have moved on to great careers, making use of skills developed in their time at FLEET. Ultimately it will be the Centre’s alums as much as its research outputs that define the success of the Centre. See other FLEET alumni at FLEET.org.au/alumni
