Guan Dabo
Graduated 2007

If you remember, please briefly comment why you chose Leeds for Postgraduate Research Degree Study?
I did my first degree here, and have seen SRI growing to one of the leading environmental research institutes in the UK with various research directions. Professor Sally Macgill encouraged and supported me to continue my PhD at SRI. I am still appreciated all her suggestions and supports during my study. Further, Klaus Hubacek just joined the SRI at that time who is interested in working on sustainability in developing countries.

How do you think a PhD degree has helped you develop both personally and in your career?
PhD is degree, but also an intensive skill training process from both academic and personal point of view. I learned how to make academic achievements, but also how to deal with all the challenges and difficulties. 

Please give a brief profile of your career path to your current job (including your first degree):

• BA  (Leeds)
• PHD (Leeds)
• Post-doc (Cambridge)
• Economist (WWF-UK)
• Senior Research Associate (Cambridge)

What are the challenges and rewards of your current job?
Challenges: to be responsible for bringing grants and projects to the department; taking PhD students

Rewards: to be responsible for bringing grants and projects to the department; taking PhD students; and working on my own interested projects.

What direction do you want your career to go in the future?
Stay and develop my career in academic field.