Profile

Photo:

Eleftheria Stavridou

    • About Me:

      I’ll live in Kent, but I grew up in Greece. I love animals 🐩 and plants 🌾. At my free time, I like going to the beach 🌊 and searching for sea glass and fossils. I love travelling around the world 🗺️ and enjoy nice food 🥗.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • My Work:

      Being a plant scientist is like being a plant detective, discovering the secrets of how plants work and how they can help the world. It’s a fun and important job! 🌱🔍 I study the fascinating world of plants, exploring their growth, development, and interactions with the environment.

    • Read more

      My work involves conducting experiments, analysing data, and applying innovative techniques to improve crop productivity, understand ecosystems, and address global challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

    • My Typical Day:

      What I enjoy most about my work is that none of the days are the same. I start early, checking emails and reading about the latest plant discoveries. Some days I go outside to study plants in nature, while others stay in the lab. In the afternoon, it is time to analyse the data! I use computers to understand the results of my experiments. Other days, I have meetings with other scientists to share ideas and plan new experiments.
      Some days I travel around the world to find out how other countries grow plants.

    • Read more

      I would use the prize to conduct demonstrations illustrating concepts such as photosynthesis, transpiration, root growth, or seed germination. I will use simple experiments and props to make these processes easy to understand and help children to discover the fascinate world of plants.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would be using the many to

    Candidate CV questions (extra)

    • Education:

      I went to school in a small village in Greece, then I moved to the northeastern part of Greece for my university degree, where I studied Plant Production. It was one of the coldest parts of Greece with a lot of snow and temperature reaching -20oC.
      After my Bachelor’s degree, I moved to the southern part of Greece, in an island called Crete to do my Master’s degree. I studied Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is all about growing food in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, preserves natural resources, and is good for farmers and communities. It’s like a win-win-win situation!
      I enjoyed my time in Crete, as the weather is always nice and I could explore so many new places.
      When I finished my Master I knew that I wanted to learn more about plants and become a scientist, that’s why I moved to Denmark to do a PhD in Horticulture.

    • Qualifications:

      As I grew up in Greece, I gained different qualifications while I was a little younger. For example, after finishing school, one will receive a mark with a total of 10.
      In Greece, the process of entering university involves taking a national examination called the “Pan-Hellenic Examinations” or “Panhellenics” (Πανελλήνιες εξετάσεις in Greek). Greek students take the Panhellenic Examinations at the end of their high school education, typically during their final year. The exams cover various subjects, depending on the field of study the student is interested in. I took exams in history, math, economics, and essay writing.

    • Work History:

      When I was a university student, I worked as a barista and waitress. After my Master’s degree, I worked at a conference centre and organised different events.I enjoyed meeting new people and interacting with them.

    • Current Job:

      I am working as a plant scientist on a research institute.

    • Employer:

      NIAB is a research institute based in the United Kingdom that focuses on agricultural research, particularly in the field of plant science and crop improvement. NIAB often collaborates with other research institutions, universities, and industry partners to combine expertise and resources.

    • My Interview

      • Were you ever in trouble at school?

        I was a victim of bullying

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Teacher

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Pink Floyd

        What's your favourite food?

        Mediterranean food

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        To travel at every place in the world. To be able to help children in Africa. To be healthy

        Tell us a joke.

        Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!

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