In our latest #CurrentConversation we speak to Markella Skempri, Altelium's Head of Data Engineering

1.       What is your current job title and how would you describe your work to a group of students?

I am the head of Data Engineering. My job is to make sure that the right data is at the right place at the right time so that actions can be taken and data driven business decisions can be made.

2.       Where have you worked before joining Altelium, building the skills for your current role?

I started my career as a bioinformatician doing what is now called data engineering for life science data. My background is in Biology, but tech and databases got the better of me. I have worked in various data related positions mostly in reporting and engineering that have helped me understand and filter out questions and answers for specific datasets.

3.       What was your first ever job?

I worked as a waitress in a Taverna in Corfu!

4.       What makes you proud to work at Altelium?

Altelium is really ahead in understanding the market for second hand electric vehicles and I think it is destined to do great things with the data and the knowledge it has.  

5.       What aspect of batteries or the need to test batteries is the most misunderstood?

What a question, I have had to have a crash course in batteries myself – thankfully I am surrounded by very, very clever individuals who are real experts and very good at explaining as well. I think the degradation that occurs due to chemistry, usage but also means of charging has not been well communicated re electric vehicles and what is it that will make sure that the battery life is long lasting. I don’t think we have found out everything just yet, and it’s exciting to be part of a journey that will change the world. 

6.       What’s your favourite activity or hobby outside work?

I have started learning piano at the grand age of 40+, we are all so accustomed in thinking that learning anything non work related is something that we do as children – especially music, so it really helps me use other parts of my brain and get lost a bit in it.

7.       What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?

I <3 to dance Salsa, Bachata and other latin dances. I was quite dedicated to it before children, I even used to teach occasionally.

8.       What skill do you think everyone should learn at school apart from the three R’s (reading, writing & arithmetic)?

Understanding emotional and psychological wellbeing.

9.       It’s the UN The International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Feb 11th. Who or what inspired you to get into science in the first place?

Honestly, it was a silly tv film called SeaQuest that started my interest in biology. Even though it is not exactly what I work in right now, it put me on an interesting and exciting non-traditional path to become an engineer.

10.   What difference do you think women bring to the world of data and science?

The biggest asset I think women can bring is the human aspect. Too many times we have seen the stereotype of a reclusive, genius male scientist who would not go far unless there were women supporting them with day-to-day life tasks. Women can make science feel more real without missing out any of the brilliance that comes with it. 

11.    What is exciting about working in science?

Science is the perfect discipline for people with natural curiosity, wanting to understand how things work and put the knowledge to use. Just being around other inquisitive minds and to bounce ideas is exhilarating.  

12.    What would you say to a student at school considering between science or art for her study options?  Why would you encourage her to choose science subjects?

I don’t think one has to choose. More importantly, it’s not a choice. For all children, science is a strong subject, so is art. If anything, they are complementary and following both would give them a more rounded education. There is no more ‘science is for boys, art is for girls’.  

13.    Why do you think it’s important to have women in science as part of team diversity?

I think women are inherently built differently to men. Their way of communicating is different, their organisation is different, their body language is different, their prioritisation is different. It is well studied and proven that a gender diverse team will always perform better.  

14.    Which woman scientist do you most admire and why?

It has to be Rosalind Franklin – the unsung hero for the DNA double helix theory. Her work predated the work of Watson and Creek and effectively facilitated their theory to be established, accepted, and eventually celebrated with a Nobel Prize. At a time when women scientists were not the first choice, she went from institute to institute, contributing to the science community and leading theories that would result in more Nobel Prizes.