Sara Blemmer is a Data Engineer at Udviklings- og Forenklingsstyrelsen
Where did you graduate from and with which degree?
I graduated from Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, with a master’s degree in physics in 2021.
Please give a description of the work you do in your current position.
In short, my main tasks revolve around data warehouse development and being a supporting tech lead. A data warehouse is a centralized system that combines vast amounts of data from multiple different sources and organizes them in a simpler manner, to help the organization make better decisions. Being a part of the Danish Ministry of Taxation, the specific data in our data warehouse is on debt and debt collection, and it supports data analysis, case processing, reporting and other functions. As a data engineer I develop new solutions and ensure the continued operation and optimization of the existing ones. My part as supporting tech lead means that I have a say in how and what we develop in cooperation with the primary tech lead, and I also do code reviews as well as provide some degree of technical mentorship for other team members.
What motivated you to study physics or engineering in the first place?
I have always had a logical mind-set and a curiosity about how the world works. My interest in science and physics in particular was probably also fuelled by good science-teachers and my parents, who are a doctor and engineer respectively. After high school I had doubts about what career and job I wanted for myself, but I ended up studying physics, because it was one of the few subjects I could see myself study.
What made you decide to pursue a career in the public sector?
After I finished my degree, I did not want to pursue academia because I am not very good at being my own project manager, and I feared it would affect my mental health in a negative manner, so I had to go for either the public or private sector. It was a bit accidental that I ended up in the public sector, as I applied for jobs in both the public and private sector, but that being said I do think working in the public sector aligns very well with my values. I care about maintaining the welfare state, so this is my way of helping.
How do you use the skills you learned as a physicist or engineer in your work?
A lot of tasks in my job consist of solving complex problems in one way or another, so I use my logical thinking and the way I consider a problem from different angles to solve it in the best way possible, as well as approaching tasks in a structured manner. Of course, I also depend on my general coding skills and ability to analyse large amounts of data, in addition to some of the softer skills such as presenting and communicating complex subjects to people with a different background than my own.
What does being a physicist or engineer mean to you?
I think it can mean a lot of different things because there are many different topics within physics and many ways to be a physicist. It can be a way of perceiving the world around you with a curiosity and an eagerness to understand how it works. It also brings a sense of bonding and understanding when meeting other physicists. At the office I work at we are at least a handful of physicists, and I remember feeling more connected when I found out in my first days of working there.
What advice would you give to young people (in particular women and minorities) with a background in physics or engineering who would like to pursue a career in the public sector?
There are many technical jobs in the public sector with broad job postings that do not specifically say physics but require skills similar or equal to that of a physicist. So, if you think a job sounds interesting then definitely go for it! Apply even if you do not have all the skills specified in the job posting. The list of required skills is mostly a wish-list, so it will also matter that you have an open mind-set and are willing to learn the skills you do not yet have.
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