Jamaican scholar's journey from statistics interest to UK PhD

What began as a fascination with statistics has culminated in a PhD for Jamaican researcher Danielle Notice, who recently completed her doctorate at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

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I did my undergrad at UWI. I studied actuarial science, a very maths-heavy degree, and some of my favourite courses were the statistics modules.

Notice's academic path started at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, where she pursued a bachelor's degree in actuarial science. "Some of my favourite courses were the statistics modules," she recalled. This early exposure ignited a passion that led her away from a traditional actuarial career.

After graduating in 2019, she enrolled in a master's program in Statistics with Data Science at the University of Edinburgh. This experience was pivotal, revealing the vast real-world applications of statistics. "That's when I truly realized this is a field I could definitely see myself working in," Notice stated. The program emphasized practical applications, often through consultancy-style projects, which resonated deeply with her.

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So, after my undergrad, I actually decided I didn’t want to be an actuary.

Notice's master's cohort was international and diverse, yet she noted the unique experience of being one of the few, if not the only, Black student. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted her studies, shifting much of her experience online during lockdown periods. Despite these challenges, she adapted, leveraging technology to maintain connections.

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That’s when I truly realized this is a field I could definitely see myself working in.

Following her master's in 2020, Notice returned to Jamaica for a year before commencing her doctoral studies at Lancaster University. There, she joined the STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training, where the initial year served as another master's degree, broadening her research exposure before she selected her specialization.

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It was very interesting. There were areas of statistics that I never even knew existed before doing that master’s degree, so a lot of it felt like I was thrown into the deep end, but I still found it quite enjoyable.