Ben Giordano Blog

09 June 2022

Ben Giordano

Doing a placement at the Department for Transport was one of the most exciting, formative and interesting things I’ve done since starting my PhD. I worked in the Science, Innovation and Technology (ScITech) directorate on an international comparator project seeking to understand where the UK can work with the US on transport decarbonisation technologies – creating a report which allowed the department to begin examining potential international collaboration and partnerships.  

It was a fast-paced, exhilarating experience – and one which gave me a renewed sense of confidence in the inner workings of the UK Government. I met people who worked on national security, science policy, energy standards and the regulation of electric vehicles. Not only were the numerous civil servants I met highly intelligent and motivated – but they were genuinely good people to work with: understanding of personal circumstances, a good laugh in the pub, and empowering people in more junior positions to be promoted and fulfil their potential.  

I’ve never worked in such a positive environment, and encourage all potential PhD students to consider taking a few months out from the agony of focusing on a single topic for years on end and get some experience in a different field. Not only will it make you more employable at the end, but it will refresh your intellectual palate – akin to eating a nice fresh salad at the end of one course of food to be ready to begin the next. I highly recommend.   

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