Jen Thomas

About me

I am excited to be starting a PhD investigating the migration of aphids, in October 2023. My varied background reflects my strong belief in interdisciplinary work and sharing of knowledge and skills. In particular, I am interested in research which combines fieldwork and technology for the purposes of conservation and biodiversity monitoring.

Last year, I finished a Master's in Entomology for which I researched the biogeography of grasshoppers and crickets in the Pyrenees. Before that, I worked as data manager supporting researchers working at the Poles. This work has taken me on four scientific expeditions onboard research vessels to the Southern Ocean and the Arctic. As a data manager, I wrangled, managed, curated and described data to make it usable, understandable and available for others to use in the future.

I advocate for open science and open data. I enjoy discovering and using open source tools such as Frictionless Data to describe and work with data.

In my free time, I enjoy watching wildlife and have a particular affection for birds and insects (although anything goes, really). I also enjoy doing surveys of wildlife, going for long walks, cycling, swimming, travelling and learning languages.