I started at the University on a fixed term contract as a Programme Administrator at our beautiful Greenlands campus. I was a recent graduate, not entirely sure what I wanted to do as a career, but knew that I wanted to work in the charity or education sector, supporting others to achieve their goals as well as utilise my organisational skills.
I joined the University in 1989 as a Lecturer, then became a Senior Lecturer in 1998, until I was accorded a Personal Chair in 2005. I specialise in food engineering, specifically applying my training in chemical engineering to food products and manufacture.
Having been at Reading for over three decades, I've seen a lot of change - but one thing that hasn't altered is the collegiate environment. The University is very supportive, and it's always been very collegiate - particularly in my Department - and I've really enjoyed that.
I was born in Reading within the Pakistani community in Cemetery Junction and have lived in Reading for most of my life. I started working here in 2011, initially starting on a fixed-term, part-time contract in the Meteorology Department. My role was as a departmental secretary, joining what was then a small team of administrators. The work was varied and interesting and brought me into contact with a wide range of people from all over the world.
When I came here in 1977, I was studying cybernetics and control engineering before becoming a PhD student. I started my lecturing career in 1983, and I've been learning ever since.
I first taught computing to cyberneticists, but every few years I have undertaken new roles and now I teach cybernetics to computer scientists! That's why I've been here so long.
