I wanted to share a bit about my experience on Tech Experts projects. In fact, the majority of the projects I have worked on with Outsmart have been these types of projects - involving identifying, contacting and creating profiles of experts in deep tech.
The first step is simply completing the short, paid training task, then you are ready to get involved with your first project. The training material explains the process clearly and provides all the necessary tools. Also at any point there is someone you can email or call to ask for help, discuss any issues or just to sanity-check your thoughts!
For me, despite no prior experience with this kind of thing, my first Tech Expert project was straightforward and easy to get to grips with. Since then I have worked on a variety of Tech Expert projects; my area of expertise is genetics and I have been able to work within this area such as finding Experts to review research proposals aiming to identify RNA biomarkers for disease diagnosis. As I gained more confidence and skills, I’ve since worked on projects that interest me but I have no prior experience in, covering topics such as drought-resistant crops, biofuels for jet aircrafts and satellite technology for capturing debris from space!
The things I have particularly appreciated and enjoyed about these projects have been:the flexibility - I have been able to choose when to get involved and to what degree alongside my PhD; the experience, and; the exposure - these projects have allowed to learn about and explore things beyond my day to day work and finally I have been able to earn a decent amount of money with relatively small time commitment!
I have worked on close to 20 projects during my PhD, for which I have been paid. I have been able to pick and choose those that interest me, and gained valuable experience which has enriched my CV. Also, I have learned about technology, people, companies and jobs I otherwise would not have encountered. I would (and have!) recommended PhD students and early career scientists to get involved with Outsmart - especially these Tech Experts projects.
