With six months left to finish her PhD, Sharlene Gomes reflects on how she got here. Her unique journey involved living, studying and working in several different countries.
“I grew up in Mumbai (India) and after completing my bachelor’s degree I emigrated with my family to Toronto, Canada. One of my first jobs there was at an analytical laboratory where I was involved in regulatory water testing for the city of Toronto. It got me curious about why similar standards could not be attained for drinking water supply in Mumbai. So I quit my job and went back to university to study environmental science.
For my master’s, I knew I wanted to focus on water resources so I applied to the specialised MSc water program at the University of Oxford. While studying there, I found out that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation was implementing an automated (water) meter technology. So I used my local network to link with project planners who were interested in my evaluation of this project as part of my thesis.
‘It’s important to take risks to pursue something that interests you’
After graduating, my goals were clearer. I wanted to work on water issues in developing countries, ideally with a development aid organisation. However, I lacked the necessary field experience and spent time over the next few years building it. I did an internship at a UN watchdog agency in New York, where I gained insight into UN policymaking. I later pursued a six month internship with the Canadian International Development Agency as a policy analyst based in Manila (Philippines). Each position has helped me figure out where my skills and interests are best suited, while learning how to operate in local contexts. This is also how I ended up in my PhD at TU Delft.
In my PhD research, I design a problem structuring approach using game theory and serious games for capacity building in the urbanising Ganges delta where groundwater management is a problem. My previous research in Mumbai made me realise that governance is what is limiting the potential of technology in the water sector. This PhD has exposed me to new methods for intervening in real-world policy issues and strengthening governance.
I think it’s important to take risks to pursue something that interests you. Initially, I thought of all my friends moving up in their careers. Meanwhile, I was taking short-term internship positions and relocating constantly. This non-traditional path is not easy, you need to be open to spending time away from family and friends and invest time in understanding how things operate in new places. But I thought as long as I can find work that satisfies my interests and I can support myself, it’s ok. In the end, I think it has paid off. I believe the experience of working internationally is extremely valuable. Somehow every experience contributes toward the next step.”
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Heather Montague / Freelance writer
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