Fabiano - Research Officer
NSW Department of Primary Industries researchers Fabiano and Annette uncovering timber samples from an excavated landfill site in Sydney.
Name: Fabiano
Job title: Research Officer
Job location: West Pennant Hills
Describe your typical day
- Lots of interaction with people from a variety of backgrounds through phone, e-mail, face to face, and presentations.
- Organising research studies.
- Writing up reports and papers.
- Spending time in the field doing research.
What attracted you to this profession?
I have always been interested in wood and forests and wanted to work in a profession where it is possible to make a positive contribution to the environment.
How did you get started?
I started working as a researcher for the then State Forests of NSW Research and Development Division, on a project with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting. The project was about the carbon cycle in forests products.
What initial training did you do?
I did Forestry in Brazil (5-year undergraduate course) and then a Masters by Research in Forestry at the Australian National University.
Is there an ongoing need to update your skills?
Constantly, as forestry is a very dynamic and diverse field.
What keeps you motivated?
The diversity of challenges associated with the job and the belief that what you are doing can make a real difference.
Who do you work with to do your job?
The nature of the work I do is very practical and involves working with a wide range of industry sectors, including forest harvest contractors, staff at wood processing facilities, building professionals and landfill managers. The daily interaction with colleagues at NSW Department of Primary Industries and other researchers in Australia is also invaluable.
What is the most interesting thing you have done, discovered or seen in your job?
Probably the most unusual aspect of my job is digging up old landfills searching for wood and paper products - rubbish archaeology if you like. There have been plenty of interesting findings as part of this work, which more than compensate for the unpleasant odours!
How does your work benefit people and/or the environment?
Our work is directly related to climate change, one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. It has important implications on the management of our forests and wood resources, as it results in a much better understanding of the fate of the carbon that is sequestered by our forests and stored in the wood products.
What advice do you have for students still at school?
Seek advice from professionals working in various areas to determine for yourself what career you want to follow and, if possible, pursue volunteer or work experience opportunities.