Staff Spotlight: Gabriele Filomena
The GDSL are thriled to announce a number of new staff members. To provide you with an understanding of their background, expertise and their experiences in their new roles, we will be introducing two new staff members each week.
Did you always intend to go into academia? If not, what made you pursue a career in this field?
I am a slow decision-maker, and it took me some time and some “iterations” to fully understand that I wanted to pursue an academic career. After my studies in cognitive science, I first ended up working in human resources for a little while. But the atmosphere and the people I met at a summer school later on motivated me to join the academic community. I undertook a MRes in spatial data science that further helped me seeing myself as a researcher and convinced me to apply for a PhD position. After that, I actually questioned working in academia and I went working in a transport planning consulting company. But now I am back and very happy about it. I really enjoy working as a researcher as it gives space for my creativity, it lets my curiosity wander between psychology, urban geography and spatial data science, and it allows me to explore the combination of theoretical approaches from different disciplines. More importantly, I value the role of colleagues and researchers who make working in academia, stimulating, exciting and, at times, very useful for containing my mental digressions.
What’s your favourite place at the UoL?
Caledonia (or Cali)! It’s not strictly within the UoL boundaries but very close to campus. This pub offers a nice variety of local beers. More than that, it is a very friendly place popular with academics, students, people from the neighbourhood and all over the city. Local artists and band perform almost every night making this venue a must for a spontaneous night out or just a pint after work. I particularly recommend Friday’s Jazz sessions. If I had to pick a UoL spot, I really like the architectural style of our “beloved” Roxby Building (from the outside), and its last floor with the best views on the city and the river (but the flooring needs to be freshened up).