Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
Having worked on Composites Research activity during my undergraduate Master’s degree at Bristol, I was made aware of the Dyson Foundation, and with the help of the BCI I was able to secure generous funding for a PhD. This gave me significant flexibility to choose an area of study I was passionate about.
What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
I investigated Composite Smart Structures, namely looking at embedding electroadhesion for variable stiffness structures. My work looked at actively modifying the stiffness of beams, and honeycomb structures, by controlling the connectivity of internal elements. A key part of this research was also the focus on the manufacturability of the concept. This was where I gained an early appreciation for the role of manufacturing in technology.
After leaving the BCI where did you go?
I’m still in Bristol, and still in the field of Composites Research! I started at the National Composites Centre in 2016 and have worked as part of the Manufacturing Team in several different roles here in the past 6 years.
What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I now head up the Manufacturing team at the NCC, leading a diverse team of 50+ engineers, operations personnel, and technicians. Our focus is on promoting and developing exciting composites technologies, operational efficiency, and lean digital factory environments. I continue to be involved in the definition and delivery of Manufacturing Research activity for the Aerospace, Construction and Infrastructure, and Energy sectors (amongst others). I’m passionate about change management, reforming processes and instilling positive culture to encourage teams to be their best; that’s where my forward attention is pointed.
How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
The network of contacts helped me to get an opportunity at the NCC which I’m extremely grateful for. Furthermore, the myriad opportunities for public speaking and networking helped to push me out of my comfort zone and to build the soft skills that are absolutely vital in interactions outside of academia.