Hayden
Graduate Physicist
How long have you worked at AWE?
One year
What did you study at university?
Mathematics at the University of Bath
Tell us about your time at AWE?
I spend most of my time developing computer codes that model physical phenomena. This is a big part of modern science as real-world systems are far too complicated to work out by hand and with today’s computing power it enables us to do things that would otherwise be impossible.
Why did you choose AWE?
I chose AWE as there is a lot of cutting-edge research done here that I find really interesting. I wanted to continue being an academic, however, I didn’t want to become a university researcher/lecturer as I wanted to experience life outside of education. AWE seemed like the best place for me to go and continue learning advanced science/mathematics outside of an educational institute.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is being able to work on some really interesting topics that you just would not find anywhere else! I also love how on the graduate scheme you get to mix with many different teams and meet lots of new people as you move around the business on placements.
What are the benefits?
One of the main benefits that I love about working for AWE is the 9 day fortnight. This means that every other Friday we get off, which is great for having a life outside of work. AWE is also very supportive when it comes to developing your career, they offer a mentoring scheme to help work towards professional chartership.
How do you see your career progressing?
Once I have finished the graduate scheme, I want to be able to continue working on technical projects. Developing my technical ability by learning more science and hopefully one day being able to publish a paper or two.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining the graduate scheme at AWE?
I would say to anyone joining AWE to just be yourself and don’t hesitate to ask questions if you are unsure of something or just want to learn more. Everyone at AWE are very welcoming and there are lots of people who are experts in their field, so there is plenty of opportunity to learn new things.
