Sam Lee

"I love that sometimes ‘my office’ is a million-year-old rainforest that is constantly teeming with a wide array of diversity that is rarely found anywhere else in the world."

How did studying at UQ help get you where you are today?

I chose to study at UQ because the environmental science program was ranked quite highly by global standards.

Under the direction and guidance of my Honours supervisor Dr Matthew Luskin, I learnt vital analytical and data management skills using R statistical software. These were essential for landing my current position here at SEARP.

The knowledge and technical expertise gained through the numerous ecology courses that were a core part of my degree also aided me in better understanding how different types of data are being collected in the field, and how to approach designing a solution to best manage different types of data.

What was the best part of your time at UQ?

The field trips as part of my degree were some of my fondest memories as I met some of my lifelong friends on these trips.  

One of the best memorable experiences was traveling to K'gari (Fraser Island) to conduct fieldwork. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

What kind of work do you do as part of your job?

My core responsibilities in my current role as Data Manager at SEARRP include:

• Managing, validating, curating and quality-checking data derived from the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment (SBE) and other centrally-managed SEARPP projects.
• Providing raw or historical datasets to scientists who collaborate with SEARPP.
• Designing and establishing platforms for data storage and sharing.
• Aid in the analysis of current SEARPP-related datasets. 

Prior to this role, I worked as a Research Technician at UQ’s Ecological Cascades Lab.

What is the best part of your job?

The part of my job that is most rewarding is knowing that the datasets that I have compiled, cleaned, and properly validated will be used by decision-makers to inform strategies and decision-making for biodiversity conservation, forest restoration, and ecosystem functioning.

Another part of my job that I greatly enjoy is doing field work in the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia. I love that sometimes ‘my office’ is a million-year-old rainforest that is constantly teeming with a wide array of diversity that is rarely found anywhere else in the world. 

In the future, my goal is to undertake a PhD in Ecology that will hopefully aid in conservation projects surrounding the last remaining rainforest within the Southeast Asian region. 

What advice would you give to anyone starting their career?

Always be proactive when it comes to learning core skills in your field and invest the time to master them to the best of your ability.

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