Dr Rhoda Hawkins is academic director at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS Ghana). Rhoda has been a lecturer, then senior lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sheffield since 2011.
Rhoda grew up in a Christian family, where she developed a keen interest in studying the world around her through science. Following her first degree at Oxford, she left to do her PhD at Leeds, where she had previously experienced a supportive research environment during a summer placement. After a number of postdoctoral positions in both Europe and the UK, one of which led her to question her place in science and academia, she regained her love of science and discovered a passion for teaching – a chance to step back from research and do something positive. She applied for a variety of fellowships before it was suggested to her that she should apply for a lectureship, as this was not necessarily more difficult to achieve. The balance between teaching and research is still important to her now in her lectureship and, while balancing the pressures and expectations of the role can be challenging, she enjoys every aspect.
Have a look at milestones in Rhoda's career:
https://academicstories.group.shef.ac.uk/rhoda-hawkins/
More on Rhoda:
https://nexteinstein.org/a-conversion-with-dr-rhoda-hawkins/
https://rhoda-hawkins.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/