Berke Ricketti
BSc (Hons) Physics
Currently working as a Instrument Scientist at RAL Space, Berke shares his experience in how Heriot-Watt provided with with not only the relevant knowledge and experience to success, but also the opportunity to grow as a person.
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Profile
Current job title and company
Instrument Scientist, RAL Space, STFC
What appealed to you most about Heriot-Watt University?
The close-knit community of the campus and the Physics department in particular.
What’s your favourite memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt Student?
Enjoying walking around the campus as a break from the lab, including walking by the loch.
Tell us about your career since graduating from Heriot-Watt?
After graduating from Heriot-Watt, I went to the University of Lethbridge as a postdoctoral fellow studying interferometry instrumentation for far-infrared astronomy. After a year and a half in Canada, I returned to the UK as an Instrument Scientist in the Disruptive Space Technology Centre at RAL Space, part of STFC.
How has your Heriot-Watt education contributed to your success?
Heriot-Watt gave me the opportunity to learn how to learn and figure out how I can best develop myself. I was encouraged to take initiative whenever possible and that has served me more times than I can count throughout my career. Not everything I learned at Heriot-Watt seemed important or relevant at the time, but with experience since graduating, I can reflect on that past experience and see how it has helped me grow to where I am today.
What advice do you have for current students or anyone considering studying at Heriot-Watt?
The close community that Heriot-Watt fosters across the campus and departments is very unique to the University, and not all universities or institutions have that. Cherish those moments and use them as opportunities to practice communication and networking skills to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
What are your aspirations for the future in:
1) Your career
To continue to learn and develop my skills as a scientist and one day lead my own projects and missions.
2) Your local and wider community?
To foster a community of broader learning and appreciation for skills and expertise outside of one's formal training, something I value learning at Heriot-Watt.