Staff Testimonial

Daniel Capistrano

Research Officer Social Research

The first day in a new job feels like the first day in school. You are nervous, overly self-conscious, and have little idea about what is going to happen. That was me arriving for my first day at the ESRI. As I headed to my new office, I bumped into a group of colleagues who were chatting and laughing standing in the corridor: "Oh, you are the new researcher. Welcome, this is how we do formal, serious meetings here". 

As in school, you also encounter learning challenges on a daily basis. The work at the Institute is organised across interdisciplinary teams that often mix for different projects.  After years working in the civil service, it took me longer to get used to this flexible structure. However, I find that working with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and expertise is not only personally stimulating but also quite effective in addressing complex research problems.  

Regardless of area or specialisation, the compass that keeps all employees working in the same direction is the shared commitment to producing relevant, high-quality research with social impact. This dedication is evident in the national and international reputation of the Institute, which I personally experienced while presenting at academic conferences, engaging with government officials and collaborating with researchers abroad.  

My PhD supervisor once told me that his best career tip is to always choose to work with people who are smarter than you, so you can learn more from them (joking that I should therefore graduate quickly and find other people to work with). Fortunately, the ESRI has no shortage of colleagues to learn from and create with, just like in a good school.