Dr Elizabeth De-Ben Rockson

Dr Elizabeth De-Ben Rockson is the Manager of the Centre for Data Intensive Science & Industry (DISI).

When did you take up this position? What was your position beforehand?

I started at UCL in September 2021 after completing my Doctoral degree in Business Management at Bangor University. However, before taking the role as DISI Centre Manager, I had worked with Bangor University – Bangor Business School London Centre as the Centre's Operations Manager for several years. 

Tell us about your work at UCL - how do you spend your days, and what makes your role different to similar positions elsewhere.

UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science (CDT DIS), which recently won its renewal bid of £1.3M by the STFC, is part of a larger structure, the Centre for Data-Intensive Science and Industry (DISI), launched in December 2021. 

DISI, supported by the Provost's Strategic Development Fund, also incorporates an MSc programme (in Scientific and Data Intensive Computing) and various research activities. My role, therefore, as DISI Centre Manager, is to support the development and delivery of the programme for the Centre. 

CDT/DISI aims to train diverse and outstanding cohorts of students to be future leaders in data-intensive science. Building on the successful cross-training and collaboration with industry partners, the CDT/DISI will embark on a new phase and continue building on this path of success and initiatives.

Although similar to previous Centre Manager positions that I have held in the past, the position at UCL DISI is unique in that a day in my role is never the same.

Some of my tasks include collaborating with industry partners and project-managing the logistics of a Summer School programme, a spin-off programme in Jordan for their 25 students to visit UCL for the first time since its inception. 

I also have project-managed and pioneered other key activities such as developing e-marketing, social media and communications strategies to align with project needs. 

Other tasks also focus on enhancing the student experience and anything that helps improve the development of the programme.

What are some of your favourite things about working in the faculty? How have you found it different to previous jobs?

As a centre manager, it is always pleasing to witness the result of your work; starting a project and seeing the end results. Also, perhaps most importantly, it is witnessing the achievements of the students you've looked after whilst achieving their qualifications and being in the know that they are satisfied with the experience they have received at the Centre. 

Working in UCL's Physics & Astronomy department has enabled me to be on the EDI board. As a black female academic, I have always wanted to help the less privileged in any way possible. Thus, I believe that being on this board allows me to help in the small way I can.

Can you tell us about any future projects that you are looking forward to working on?

I look forward to assisting the co-directors in creating and executing the Centre's strategies and plans. In the interim, I look forward to implementing the Centre's new website. 

I also look forward to leading the efforts to establish and increase the social media presence of DISI Centre (and the CDT) and working with DIS industry partners and the CDT alumni to build up support for the Centre. 

Follow the DISI Centre on Twitter and LinkedIn! 

Have you always been based in London? If not, when did you move here, and how did you find adapting to living in London?

I am a Londoner. I have always been in London – West London, to be precise. I have grown, schooled and worked in London. My family and I live in the same borough.

Finally, tell us about your non-work life. Do you have any hobbies, or favourite places to go in London? 

I have a few hobbies and interests. Some of these are dancing and listening to music (gospel, R&B, and afrobeat). I also enjoy playing tennis and swimming with the family. 

In addition, I love cooking, baking, and travelling, though it has been restrictive during the pandemic. I am also charitable, focusing mainly on social work for the less privileged and those suffering from Sickle Cell disease, an area close to my heart. 

My newly acquired interest includes journalling, particularly in an autoethnographic style. A few of these have been on my lived experiences and a potential journal with my supervisor to publish.  When did you take up this position? What was your position beforehand?

I started at UCL in September 2021 after completing my Doctoral degree in Business Management at Bangor University. However, before taking the role as DISI Centre Manager, I had worked with Bangor University – Bangor Business School London Centre as the Centre's Operations Manager for several years. 

Tell us about your work at UCL - how do you spend your days, and what makes your role different to similar positions elsewhere.

UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science (CDT DIS), which recently won its renewal bid of £1.3M by the STFC, is part of a larger structure, the Centre for Data-Intensive Science and Industry (DISI), launched in December 2021. 

DISI, supported by the Provost's Strategic Development Fund, also incorporates an MSc programme (in Scientific and Data Intensive Computing) and various research activities. My role, therefore, as DISI Centre Manager, is to support the development and delivery of the programme for the Centre. 

CDT/DISI aims to train diverse and outstanding cohorts of students to be future leaders in data-intensive science. Building on the successful cross-training and collaboration with industry partners, the CDT/DISI will embark on a new phase and continue building on this path of success and initiatives.

Although similar to previous Centre Manager positions that I have held in the past, the position at UCL DISI is unique in that a day in my role is never the same.

Some of my tasks include collaborating with industry partners and project-managing the logistics of a Summer School programme, a spin-off programme in Jordan for their 25 students to visit UCL for the first time since its inception. 

I also have project-managed and pioneered other key activities such as developing e-marketing, social media and communications strategies to align with project needs. 

Other tasks also focus on enhancing the student experience and anything that helps improve the development of the programme.

What are some of your favourite things about working in the faculty? How have you found it different to previous jobs?

As a centre manager, it is always pleasing to witness the result of your work; starting a project and seeing the end results. Also, perhaps most importantly, it is witnessing the achievements of the students you've looked after whilst achieving their qualifications and being in the know that they are satisfied with the experience they have received at the Centre. 

Working in UCL's Physics & Astronomy department has enabled me to be on the EDI board. As a black female academic, I have always wanted to help the less privileged in any way possible. Thus, I believe that being on this board allows me to help in the small way I can.

Can you tell us about any future projects that you are looking forward to working on?

I look forward to assisting the co-directors in creating and executing the Centre's strategies and plans. In the interim, I look forward to implementing the Centre's new website. 

I also look forward to leading the efforts to establish and increase the social media presence of DISI Centre (and the CDT) and working with DIS industry partners and the CDT alumni to build up support for the Centre. 

Follow the DISI Centre on Twitter and LinkedIn! 

Have you always been based in London? If not, when did you move here, and how did you find adapting to living in London?

I am a Londoner. I have always been in London – West London, to be precise. I have grown, schooled and worked in London. My family and I live in the same borough.

Finally, tell us about your non-work life. Do you have any hobbies, or favourite places to go in London? 

I have a few hobbies and interests. Some of these are dancing and listening to music (gospel, R&B, and afrobeat). I also enjoy playing tennis and swimming with the family. 

In addition, I love cooking, baking, and travelling, though it has been restrictive during the pandemic. I am also charitable, focusing mainly on social work for the less privileged and those suffering from Sickle Cell disease, an area close to my heart. 

My newly acquired interest includes journalling, particularly in an autoethnographic style. A few of these have been on my lived experiences and a potential journal with my supervisor to publish.