PhD Government, 2011
Post-doctoral research fellow, Oxford Institute for Ethics
Please describe your career path to date
I have held two post-doctoral research fellowships since graduating from LSE, one in Germany, and one in the UK. An LSE PhD is highly regarded and has helped me to apply for academic positions.
Has your career path developed as you planned?
Yes, it has. Academia is a very competitive sector, and I am glad that I have managed to secure research posts. Since I graduated, I feel that I have really developed as a researcher, working on new topics, developing new ideas. I am very happy to have got to where I am now.
Tell us about your current job
I work on a research project focusing on the ethical and legal impacts of emerging targeting systems. Drones are one example of such systems, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. The project allows me to integrate my philosophical work with more policy orientated work. Most of my work is traditional in an academic sense, but I have really enjoyed working with policy makers and to look at the actual regulation of these systems.
Why did you choose this job?
It allowed me to continue to work as a political philosopher and to research ethical issues in armed conflict; overall I found the topic incredibly exciting!
What do you like most about your job? Is there anything that you dislike?
I like working in an emerging area of research. It's a great opportunity to make a contribution to a new field.
What career plans do you have for the future?
I plan to either continue as a researcher, or to become a university lecturer. Either way, I would like to broaden my current research on ethics and technology beyond military technology. Surveillance has recently become a big issue, and I would like to tackle some of the ethical challenges it raises in future research.
Thinking back, why did you choose your degree subject and why did you choose LSE?
Quite simply: LSE is one of the best universities in Europe for political theory and political philosophy. I have always had a strong interest in the ideas that underpin politics, and there's no better place to study these than LSE.
How has your time at LSE helped you so far in your career?
Most importantly I had rigorous academic training at the LSE. This has helped me immensely as a researcher. Also, my work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant was very helpful. Teaching is one of the great joys of academic life, and LSE gave me the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to teach at graduate and undergraduate level.
What advice would you give to prospective or current LSE students?
Work hard! LSE provides all the intellectual resources you need, but you need to look for them and take opportunities when they arise. Don't be afraid to re-examine your own views in light of what you learn at LSE. It helps you grow as a person.
Overall, how do you look back on your LSE experience?
One of the most important periods in my life. It has shaped me in many ways, not just as an academic. Academically, I learned how to do political philosophy, but the School taught me much more than that. It showed me how to navigate a big city and interact with people from all over the world - that’s valuable life experience.