**This is part of our series on Carleton PhD alumni who are working in non-academic positions. You can read other stories in the series by going to our Alumni Success Story archive.
Jenelle Power had an “incredible opportunity” while working at the Research Branch, National Headquarters, Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to pursue research on self-injurious behaviour in women offenders, her thesis topic.
Power, who graduated with her PhD in Psychology from Carleton in 2011 says her PhD helped expedite her career.
“While it wasn’t required to start at the Research Branch, I believe it helped me become a Research Manager much more quickly. Working and completing my PhD simultaneously allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge and experience in a relatively short period of time, positioning me for promotions within my organization.”
She has held positions with the Research Branch ranging from Research Assistant, to Research Officer, Senior Research Officer, Research Manager, and now Special Advisor to the Director of Research.
As manager, she supervises researchers and is involved in all aspects of the research process. “Our mandate is to advance effective and efficient corrections towards the goals of crime prevention and public protection,” explains the alumna. “We also work with other sectors within CSC to determine how research can help in decision-making and policy development.”
Says Power: “I feel very lucky to have been able to conduct my research with the support of the Research Branch. I love working in an applied setting and getting to design projects that can solve real-world problems that affect the lives of offenders, CSC employees and the public. It is a challenging environment and I appreciate being able to do research and use my academic training in a government environment. I really enjoy being a public servant, as it provides so many interesting opportunities.”
Power also mentions that Prof. Shelley Brown, who was her Carleton supervisor, really pushed her to make her project and dissertation better. “She is incredibly bright, insightful, and supportive,” shares Power, “and I am a much better researcher due to her mentoring and the countless hours she spent giving feedback and thinking of ways to maximize my research.”
For current PhD students thinking about pursuing employment, Power says: “Show up! Go to any social events, public lectures, conference, etc. The best way to find out about opportunities is to have someone in the field let you know they are available. Be open-minded and take opportunities as they arise. Sometimes opportunities become available that are not what you envisioned or do not fit with your original plan, but can lead to a whole new world of career opportunities that you really enjoy.”
Friday, April 4, 2014 in Alumni Success Stories, Grad Student Research
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