COMPANY : SAP
With 12 million users and more than 1,800 partners, SAP is the world’s largest inter-enterprise software company and the world’s third-largest independent software provider overall. A rich history of innovation and growth has made SAP a true industry leader today employing more than 51,000 people in over 50 countries.
SAP Research, the technology research department of SAP , prepares the groundwork for future growth by identifying emerging IT trends with a focus on strategically important SAP business areas. SAP Research’s Campus-based Engineering Centre CEC Belfast was founded in January 2005 as the Research Centre of SAP (UK) Limited.
JOB TITLE : Research Associate (PhD)
This job role involves:
- Researching the latest technologies.
- Writing technical papers on important research and findings.
- Submitting proposals for new topics of interest.
- Creating and submitting patentable ideas.
- Developing prototype technologies for demonstration and results gathering.
- Giving presentations both internally and externally.
- Providing guidance to placement students.
- Working parallel to gaining a PhD through collaboration with the university.
EDUCATION :
2002 – 2008 : Queen’s University Belfast
- MEng Computer Science
- LCGI City & Guilds Licentiateship
1995 – 2002 : St. Mary’s Christian Brother’s Grammar School
- A-Levels: Computing, German, Physics, Mathematics
- G.C.S.E: Information Systems, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Double Award Science, German, English, English Literature, History, Religious Studies
WORK EXPERIENCE :
2005 – 2006 : Meridio Ltd. – Placement Student (Research & Development)
REASONS FOR CHOOSING IT:
The scope of an IT career is extremely broad, allowing almost anyone with an interest in computing to find a job that suits them. As technology evolves and we become more reliant on computer systems, a job in IT will ensure that you will stay at the cutting edge. With IT becoming more pervasive in everyday life, the computing skills you will acquire will give you a major advantage.
SKILLS REQUIRED :
- Good self-motivation
- A thirst for knowledge
- Ability to analyse and communicate well
- Strong Mathematical background
- Interest in computers
BENEFITS OF THE JOB :
- Working with cutting-edge technologies
- Many different projects to choose from
- Ideas are never constrained – you are always asked to think “outside the box”
- Lots of opportunities to travel for conferences by the biggest names in the industry
- Making connections with people from a variety of companies
- Opportunities to make extra money (e.g. patents)
CAREER GOALS :
I hope to have completed my PhD, with plans to work in another country, continuing to expand and improve my knowledge. I would like to work on a computer system that is put into wide-scale, every day use, and that gives real benefits to its users.