However, she set those enormous concerns about the universe aside in 2015 and focused on cyber-security.
The quest for knowledge about the universe is undoubtedly significant, but she adds, “I reached a point where I felt like I wanted to do something that impacted people’s daily lives more.”
Like many others, Ms. Powell was also searching for improved working conditions and compensation.
According to her, “there are a number of obstacles in the academic career path that can deter people from persevering, such as job security and pay in relation to industry.”
Lead security data scientist Dr. Powell works for Panaseer, a company that assists businesses in identifying potential weak points in their cyber-security measures.
She is only one of many who have entered the field of cyber-security with expertise from previous professions.
A variety of jobs fall under the umbrella of cyber-security, all with the goal of defending technology and organizations against online threats. Some analyze or enhance the security of devices, networks, and applications to help prevent incidents. Others support organizations in carrying out their daily tasks or in recovering from attacks.
An organization of cyber-security experts, ISC2, reports that 39% of newly hired personnel in the industry have non-IT backgrounds.
“I came across a job posting for [cyber-security] that stated they were looking for someone with experience with data,” explains Dr.
