What does your job entail?
T?I is an independent research institute where we research issues related to the role of the transport system in society. We are not just economists, as the name might suggest, but economics is central since socioeconomic analysis is widely used in transport planning. My job involves conducting research projects in collaboration with other colleagues and acquiring new assignments and projects.
What is the most exciting aspect of your job? Since we often work in collaboration with or on assignments for public authorities and other stakeholders, we come close to relevant issues and exciting data sources. I also enjoy conveying information, whether directly to relevant stakeholders or in public media.
How do you utilize your education in your job?
As a researcher, I have a role where I can truly apply my field of study. This includes, for example, the econometric methods I learned during my master's and doctoral studies, as well as the fundamental economic intuition gained from simple models at the bachelor's level.
What is a typical day at work like?
It really depends on the type of project I'm working on and what phase the project is in. Sometimes I sit down to write or conduct analyses myself, but often I'm in meetings where we plan and discuss how to proceed to answer our questions. Since I am relatively experienced, I often have a more overarching role in many of the projects, but I also like to work in a "hands-on" manner if I get the opportunity.
How did you get this job?
I applied during the last semester of my master's program. There was a job posting that wasn't actually relevant for me, but I reached out to inquire if there were any possibilities. T?I accepts open applications. Later, I spent a few years as a doctoral fellow at the University of Oslo and only worked part-time before returning to a full-time position at T?I.
What is your best tip for other students aspiring to your type of job?
I didn't follow any clear plan myself; the most important thing is to have an interest in the field and to enjoy diving deep into it. One should also pay attention to what is happening in society and try to contextualize what they learn. Otherwise, I would prioritize learning some coding and data processing, as this will be very beneficial.
(The interview was originally conducted in Norwegian and is translated into English).
Askill Harkjerr Halse
Study program: Master's in Economics (Bachelor from UiB). PhD in Social Economics
Graduated: Master's degree in 2009, PhD in 2017
Job title: Senior Researcher
Employer: The Institute of Transport Economics (T?I)