Length of time at AWE- 13 Years
How did your career start?
I joined AWE as an experimental physicist in 2005 as part of the graduate scheme to work on Lightning Arrestor Connectors (LACs). My job was to design a component which could act as a connector but also have the ability to divert direct strike lightning currents.
Four years into my career at AWE I was asked to take on the leadership of a team of physicists, electronics engineers and materials scientists to develop LACs and a range of other components. This role involved working closely with technical experts to ensure we had the capabilities we needed to meet programme demands and involved project management, people management and stakeholder engagement. I was able to remain actively involved in a number of science and engineering based activities.
My next role was as Engineering Manager for a systems team which was also a project management role to facilitate the delivery of designs and hardware by a community of scientists and engineers. This gave me the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of many different technologies across various engineering and science disciplines. From there, I moved to my current position as Deputy Group Leader NNCs, a role which I have been in for the past 2 years.
Tell us about your time at AWE?- What do you do?
In my role as Deputy Group Leader for NNCs I have the privilege to work on a large variety of interesting projects to help our group be successful. The group is multidisciplinary bringing together Electronics, Mechanical and Systems Engineers with Physicists, Materials Specialists and Mathematicians to deliver a range of components. I am able to get involved with project management, resource management, and setting technical strategies for the group now and into the future. My average day involves a lot of problem solving which can be anything from resourcing & recruitment issues to getting funding for modifications to our existing laboratories and installations of equipment and contributing to review panels for programme delivery. A lot of my current work involves learning about how our US counterparts do business so that we can best align to their future programmes while meeting our UK needs out into the future.
What do you most enjoy about your current role?
Definitely the variety both in the work and the range of talented scientist and engineers who deliver our programmes. I love the fact that my day can see me moving quickly between working on people issues, facility issues to highly technical discussions and back to organising engagement activities.
What is the best thing about your job?
The people. I can’t say enough how inspiring our scientists and engineers are. It’s incredible to watch how they can work through technically challenging problems to develop innovative hardware. The technical staff in our group are so innovative and varied in their thinking and they are the reason I get out bed and come to work every day.
Why is diversity and inclusion so important in STEM industries?
Diversity and inclusion is vital within STEM industries because that is where innovation comes from. It comes from people who think differently to each other, coming together to solve hard problems. To be successful we need a variety of personality types from those who are deeply analytical, the ideas people and those who enjoy to stand back and look at the big picture. Whether you’re a driver, a thinker, a problem solver or a hands on practical person, you play a key role in delivery. The more inclusive we are as an organisation, the more we can find ensure that we have a good mix of these skills and abilities.
Why do you think there are so few female in STEM roles?
That’s a tough one and I’m not sure there is one succinct answer. My perception is that the fact that there are more men than women in STEM roles in itself perpetuates this problem. What I mean by this, and I am massively generalising here, is those who prefer to conform, look to find work in environments where they can be among their peers and those they can relate to. I think it’s born out of a social need to feel connected and it starts at school.
In my experience at school it was obvious that girls weren’t taking subjects like design & technology at GCSE and they weren’t taking A Levels like physics and mathematics.. In my case that gave me more reason than ever to want to do these subjects, that and an annoying propensity for wanting to know why things worked the way they did and being obsessed with trying to understand what gravity and light were. For some though, there is definitely an element of peer pressure, to follow friends and social groups into subjects where they will be around like minded people.
What advice would you give to someone who want to become a scientist/engineer?
Believe in yourself. Ask loads of questions and there are never stupid questions. The more you ask the more you learn. Make sure you practice skills like mathematics and give yourself plenty of time to learn. Talk to other scientists and engineers about courses, training and work they have done. Take an active interest in what is going on in the world to advance technology and understand the breakthroughs in science.