Category: Alumni Interviews

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
I completed my undergraduate degree in the Aerospace Engineering department at Bristol, so I was already familiar with the research group and their work. I was particularly attracted to the CDT format, which offers the freedom to explore and choose my PhD topic, as well as the opportunity to develop key skills essential for a successful PhD student.

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
My focus was on engineering origami. Specifically, I was interested in understanding the mechanical properties of origami structures, which theoretically have a single degree of freedom (making them a perfect mechanism), but in reality, they possess multiple degrees of freedom. This means that, while theoretically, a single actuator would suffice to deploy an origami structure, in practice, actuators must be distributed throughout the structure to achieve the desired deployment.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
My first role after leaving BCI was at a start-up company in Newport called B2Space. This company specialises in high-altitude ballooning, specifically with the objective of creating a satellite launch vehicle that deploys from a high-altitude balloon. Initially, my role was to perform all analyses (structural, aerodynamic, control, etc.) in support of the design of our products. After a few months, I also took over the management of the mechanical design, build, and launch operations of our high-altitude balloons. I spent two years with B2Space, during which I travelled and conducted high-altitude balloon launches in places as diverse as North Wales and the Canary Islands. After those two years, I was ready for a new challenge and moved to Space Forge as the Satellite Operations Lead. In this role, I am responsible for developing and executing the operations of our satellites and payloads throughout their reusable lifecycle. About a year into this role, the opportunity arose to also take on the ForgeStar-1 platform product lead role. As part of this, I am the most senior engineer responsible for the technical decisions throughout the lifecycle of ForgeStar-1 (an R&D satellite), from design through build and test until the mission is complete in orbit.

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I am currently preparing to manage the operations of ForgeStar-1 when it launches this summer. My future plans are to grow my team at Space Forge so that we can best support the technology development and design needed to build and operate ForgeStar-2, which will be our first operational satellite performing in-space manufacturing and returning the products to Earth.

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia? 
The two most important things were: 1. Teaching me how to be a self-starter and figure out what the problem is and how to solve it on my own. 2. Giving me the freedom to teach and engage in outreach, which broadened my horizons and helped me make contacts that have been beneficial throughout my subsequent career.

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies? 
When I was looking for a doctorate, I knew I wanted to work on composite materials but I wasn’t sure about the area in which I wanted to specialise. The CDT programme that BCI offers provided me with the opportunity to learn more about the world of composites before deciding which route interests me the most. Additionally, coming from a science background the CDT provided the opportunity to upskill myself with engineering skills, which is ultimately the route I ended up taking. 

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here? 
I worked on the development of nanocomposite materials with enhanced toughness. My research was mostly experimental, using a multi-scale approach to tackle the research question. More specifically, I developed polystyrene nanofibres with embedded cellulose nanocrystals, and then I added these nanofibres as interleaves within composite laminates. I studied the mechanical performance of all the different components, working towards understanding the connection between the properties of the nanofibres and how they affected the mechanical performance of the composite laminates.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
Initially I moved to Oxfordshire and worked as an R&D Scientist in The Electrospinning Company in the field of biomedical devices. I realised though that the aerospace sector was my true calling, so I returned to Bristol as a Composites Engineer with Alten UK, a consultancy which gave me the opportunity to work for Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace. After that, I moved to the National Composites Centre (NCC), where I still work as an Advanced Research Engineer for materials in extreme environments.  

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I am currently working on multiple projects on the development of materials and manufacturing processes for materials in extreme environments. That includes materials that can withstand hypersonic speeds, cryogenic environments, and even the synergistic effect of atomic oxygen and radiation in lower earth orbit. In the future I would like to keep working in this area as a technical specialist; the cutting-edge applications that I get to work on are always interesting and they provide an early glimpse into our future! 

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
The BCI prepared me by helping me develop both my technical skills, which are of course absolutely necessary, but also my soft skills. Learning how to communicate with your team, how to present your research, how to manage a budget and a timeline… these are qualities that help candidates stand out when applying for jobs, and that eventually make you successful in your career, as you can navigate your projects and any difficulties more easily. 

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
I was connected to the former Director Ivana Partridge through one of her former students from Cranfield, he was supervising me during my industry led master thesis. I was invited and coincidentally they had a position that was the perfect topic for me. What really drew me to the EngD programme was the close connection to industry, I had the privilege to work on one of the NCC core projects, sponsored by their Tier 1 partners. This gave me exposure to industry needs, a great industry network and a big challenge to tackle, bridging industry and academia.

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
My research area was Automated Fibre Placement with Dry Fibre material. I was able to explore this topic on an industrial level, working with an automation system as it would be used in production, not a small test set up. I was looking into a variety of aspects of this technology, machine parameter determination, influence of part geometries on the layup, the infusion process but also the scalability. I really enjoyed working with a multi-disciplinary team: programmers, metrologists, infusion specialists, production technicians, I have learned so much from all my colleagues.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
My first job after the EngD was in Sales, which was only short lived. I have learned a lot of what I am not good at and what I do not want to do, which was also a valuable learning experience. I took a different role after less than a year, I joined Airborne in the Netherlands as a proposal engineer, which was a position connecting the sales team and the engineering team. I later changed to the engineering team leading all R&D activities, which brought me back into familiar turf of bridging the gap between research and development. I now work for a Dutch funding body (Luchtvaart in Transitie) overseeing national projects in the aviation sector, working closely with the Dutch government but also the executing companies. Again, I find myself bridging a gap, this time between government and industry.

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
The funding body Luchtvaart in Transitie is managing several national and international projects, a total of 12 projects, over 60 partners and a budget of several hundred million EUR. I am now overseeing a portfolio of different subsidy projects, branching out from just composites related topics into the broader aerospace industry. I also have responsibilities on the programme management side. I am excited to learn more about the transition to novel propulsion technologies and support the executing parties to develop innovative technology.

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
My studies at University of Bristol prepared me in many ways. First of course on a technical level, giving me all the technical knowledge and expertise in the field of composites manufacturing. Perhaps more importantly, I also gained many transferrable skills, such as speaking at conferences, building a strong network, self-confidence, stakeholder management and bridging the gap between industry and academia. Lastly, I learned how important it is to find my passion and to keep going for my goals. I learned that a doctorate is a marathon, not a sprint. This also applies to the career beyond the doctorate, and I am prepared to run the marathon of making aviation sustainable.

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
It offered a unique ability to spend 6 months getting to know the subject area and building a relationship with a supervisor before committing to a full-length PhD study. I was the second year of the full BCI (then ACCIS) wing being open, and the whole department felt like it had an upward trajectory and expanding resources to get interesting work done.

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
‘Automated layup or prepreg components’. I studied the manual layup process in detail, broke it down into achievable sub-tasks and then replicated them using a 6-axis robot. If you’re interested, a video can be found here.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
After my PhD I worked as a post doc for 5 years working on numerous robotic layup variations, including Human-Robotic collaborations. I also worked on developing my teaching capabilities, delivering regular lecturers and seminars. I then moved on to the National Composites Centre, along with lots of other BCI Alumni.

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I’m currently working on a large European project aiming to reduce defects in Wind Turbine manufacturing. This is done by sensorising the infusion and using machine learning to control to infusion, for more information see www.Turboproject.eu. Alongside this I work on numerous aerospace and defence projects, covering prepreg and Infusion and RTM manufacturing techniques. I’m hoping to pick up more lower TRL level work, and I have recently had interest into further developing my PhD work into a viable industrial process.

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
The technical skills and knowledge I developed at the BCI have been very useful, I can drop into most projects and have a good understanding of the technology, ranging from Infusion simulations to Robot programming. Some PhD schemes can be very focused on a single field, but being in the BCI surrounded by other work and frequent dissemination activities gave me a much broader understanding of composites. The BCI has always helped develop the presentation techniques of students and these skills have been very useful in my current role, in meetings, workshops and customer presentations.

As part of our Alumni Series, we speak to Priyanka Priyadarshini, Composite Test Engineer at Magma Global, about life after the BCI…

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
Bristol was ranked among the top 100 universities in the world, which is why I was interested in studying there. The city’s diverse cultural acceptance and the atmosphere of Bristol itself impressed me more than any other place. The collaboration between BCI and Rolls-Royce sparked my curiosity, as it offered insight into composite research as advanced subjects. The ongoing improvements, research initiatives, renowned professional guidance, and frequent seminars on composites were all incredibly fascinating and thoughtful. I couldn’t find any other institution that matched BCI in terms of its research opportunities. I knew that this was the right place for me to begin my journey at Bristol.

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
I worked on gaining a deeper understanding of natural fibres and conducted research on how impactful they can be when combined with synthetic materials. I examined few hybrid materials consisting of both flax and carbon fibres to analyse their strength and stiffness. Additionally, I also performed a Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the amount of carbon dioxide they would generate once they reach the end of their life cycle.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
Immediately after graduation, I joined a firm in Bristol as a Quality Inspector to address some financial challenges and worked there for few months. Afterward, I shifted my focus and joined Magma Global Private Limited, producer of m-pipe® for oil and gas company, as a Composite Test Engineer.

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
Our pipes are manufactured using carbon fibre and advanced oilfield polymers to meet the demanding requirements for subsea applications. As a Composite Test Engineer, I test these pipes according to company standards and analyse the data to observe different behaviours and any variances from standard test specifications. Looking ahead, my goal is to become a Chartered Engineer and make meaningful contributions to innovation in understanding carbon-polymer behaviour more deeply.

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
Through the BCI programme, I had the opportunity to connect with a variety of companies over a six-month period, gaining valuable insights into their innovative approaches and exploring how I could contribute effectively. During this time, I gained hands-on experience with the equipment provided by BCI, which enabled me to operate machinery and perform different tests independently. This experience proved valuable in enhancing my understanding of operations within the composite industry, while broadening my perspective on potential growth opportunities within my field of interest.

As part of our Alumni Series, we speak to Reece Lincoln, Senior Engineer at Frazer-Nash Consultancy about life after the BCI…

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
I chose the Bristol Composites Institute as it is a world-class research institute for composites. I was interested in researching composite structures and there was no better place to go. I was attracted to the PhD programme as it was cohort-based, meaning it wouldn’t be a completely solo adventure. I was also at Bristol Uni for my undergrad, so I knew the lecturers and research staff were excellent. 

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
I specialised in structures, specifically shell buckling. I researched how a BCI-created manufacturing technique, Rapid Tow Shearing, could be used to reduce the sensitivity of thin-walled shells to premature buckling under axial compression. I showed that with Rapid Tow Shearing, a more mass-efficient structure could be manufactured, which could lead to direct mass savings on a structure. 

 

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
I have been working at Frazer-Nash Consultancy for the past 15 months, working on data science and machine learning projects. 

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
My projects are wide ranging – but general process is similar – I work in a team of two to five that creates a model of a complex system. We then visualise this model in an interactive tool for the client. I have worked on modelling the graphite within nuclear reactors, the roll-out of gigabit-capable internet across the UK, the cost and performance of a space-based solar-power satellite, the resilience of the UK energy network to weather events, and the post-processing of nuclear waste. My future plans are to continue what I’m doing now – working on tough problems that are impactful and interesting. 

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
BCI prepared me for work outside academia by teaching me how to be rigorous in understanding a problem, methodical in my approach to creating a solution, and critical of the results any solution produces. BCI also taught me how to communicate clearly and concisely, recognising that technical problems have ‘stories’ to tell and the story is as important as the solution. 

As part of our Alumni Series, we speak to Riccardo Manno, Research and Development Engineer at Ansys about life after the BCI…

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
Back in 2017 I was involved in a research project that saw me spending some time in an University in US. That time I realized I wanted to pursue a PhD in some relevant University. I therefore, started searching for the best academic institutes around the world and I came across BCI. Looking at the website I suddenly understood that it was the place to be for an Advanced Composites Doctorate. 

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
I was mainly involved in the numerical modelling of advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites within the Rolls Royce University of Technology Centre at BCI. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with engineers working at Rolls Royce as well as other researchers based at Imperial College London and University of Oxford. I have to say it was an incredible journey. 

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
After finishing my PhD I won a Knowledge Transfer Secondment of which I was the Principal Investigator. During this time, I transferred all the work that I had produced during my PhD to Rolls Royce. While, completing the file period of the KTS I secured a position at Ansys as Research and Development Engineer. 

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
In my day to day, I implement models and pieces of software which are used for performing multiscale simulations of composite and lattice materials. I am happy to work at Ansys and I am trying to build as much knowledge as possible for progress within the company. 

 How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
I think BCI is an excellent starting point for working within academia as well as outside academia. It is really well known around the world from companies working in the composites field. Furthermore, all the trainings provided by the BCI prepared me well to make the leap into industry after my PhD and Postdoc. 

As part of our Alumni Series, we speak to Jamie Blanchfield, Test Engineer at Rolls-Royce about life after the BCI…

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
It felt like a really exciting place to study composites, and it offered great support and learning opportunities for me as I hadn’t come straight from an undergraduate degree.  

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
My research focussed on fatigue damage evolution in aerospace composites.

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
I went to Element Materials Technology, involved in all sorts of composite materials testing. 

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I currently work at Rolls-Royce as a test engineer working on all manner of testing including, of course, composites! 

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
There were so many opportunities to work with, and discuss your work with, industry partners in BCI, and a lot of focus on how you present yourself as a professional engineer. 

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
I first learned about the Bristol Composites Institute during my master’s research in my home country by exploring various papers that discussed composite materials from various angles. My interest at the time was understanding the fibre/resin interfaces, particularly from a mechanical standpoint. Subsequently, I secured a fully funded PhD scholarship, bringing me to BCI, and the rest is history!

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
I focused on customizing the surfaces of polymeric fibres using diverse plasma techniques. The research initiative concentrated on micro/nano-scale modifications to the fibre surfaces, investigating their influence on adhesion at both micro and macro levels, as well as their wetting characteristics with thermosetting matrices. The fibres employed in the study had inert surfaces, causing issues such as delamination, inadequate adhesion properties, and suboptimal wetting characteristics with thermoset matrices in the composite materials. The aim was to enhance the adhesion and wetting properties of these fibres.

 

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
I moved to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire after graduating to take up the role of Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. The role is a three-way collaboration between the University of Bristol, industrial partner and UK Research and Innovate (UKRI).

 

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I am working on developing novel and bio-derived resin systems for various composite applications, specifically focusing on the e-mobility market. Sustainability is the key element in this development program encompassing the development of materials and methods with low environmental burden and the transfer of knowledge from academia to industry.

 

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
The connections I made as a student at BCI were great. They taught me a lot about how research is done in collaboration with industry, especially since my PhD was co-funded by an industrial partner (DSM Dyneema®, now Avient). Working with a mix of scientists and engineers from different parts of the world helped me learn and improve my soft skills and technical abilities. It also gave me a chance to get better at communicating.

Why did you choose the Bristol Composites Institute for your studies?
It was a confluence of a few factors.  My now-wife, then-girlfriend, Ariel, chose to pursue a higher degree at the Courtould Institute of Art in London.  Meanwhile, I had been fortunate enough to write and receive a grant to study thermally-actuated morphing structures from the European Office of Air Force Research and Development.  I could take myself and this grant to any European university, but it was the world-renown expertise of Drs. Weaver and Pirrera, and their warm invitation, that focused my attention on Bristol.   

I recall my first visit to the UK, on summer scouting holiday.  I borrowed Ariel’s old commuter bike from her East end flat and set off for Paddington, and not long after found myself cranking with all my might up the steep hills that led to the Queen’s building.  After a quick breather, and a warm welcome from Jo Brooks and Dr. Weaver, it was off to see the laboratory facilities.  I was impressed.  Never before, and never since, have I experienced a lab in which the researcher was so well equipped to conduct their work unhindered.  There was most everything one needed to fabricate, test, inspect, measure, and generally get into the right kind of trouble that breeds discovery.  Best of all, the kit was all shared, and no political manoeuvring and horse-trading was required to use some instrument that technically might have been owned by someone else’s professor.  (You folks don’t know how good you have it!)

Finally, it was Bristol, the wonderful city, that cemented my decision.  There will always be a place in my heart for the city that I called home for six wonderful years of a young American’s adventure abroad. 

What research area did you specialise in whilst you were here?
My research aimed to create composite structures which changed shape in response to temperature change.  But unlike the simple bimetal strips that make your meat thermometer dial spin around, I wanted to have these structures be inert to temperature change for some prescribed temperature change, and then suddenly snap into their new shape at a specified triggering temperature.  t’s a bit like trying to combine the classic bitmetal strip with a bistable snap-bracelet.  That nonlinearity was needed to make them useful for gas turbine cooling control and other passive control applications.  

It was easy to make something bistable, but much harder to get the plate or whatnot to pop into it’s new shape due to temperature change alone.  We cracked the problem by laminating parallel UD plies against a high-expansion metal like aluminium, and then curing the laminate to a pre-curved shape.  I’ll never forget the feeling of “we’ve done it!” when we heard the plate go “poing!” all on it’s own, as it snapped into it’s new shape as we heated it in the oven.  An entertaining activity was to take the warm plate from the oven, slip it under a hapless researcher’s desk, ideally seeking out a jumpy fellow deeply engrossed in work.  The plate would cool off and go “poing” again, to the delight of anyone observing the little prank. 

After leaving the BCI where did you go?
I was lucky enough to get my CV to Blue Origin, just as they were starting on the design of what would become their New Glenn orbital launch vehicle.  I was hired as a structural design engineer, and had a small hand in many of the composite and metallic structures on the 2nd stage and payload fairing.  As I tell my nieces and nephews when they ask what it is that I really do, “I draw pictures of rockets and then we go build them!” 

What are you currently working on and what do your future plans look like?
I’m currently on a great team working out the best structure and propellant tank architecture of a follow-on upgrade to the New Glenn launch system.  I’m also a new dad, and my biggest future plan is to have as much fun as I can making my kid’s life awesome.    

How did the BCI prepare you for work outside of academia?
Like any good PhD program, BCI, or DTC as it was called then, gave me great resources and great independence.  It was clear that the onus was on me, and me alone, to define what I wanted to do, and drive my own work forward.  I think if I had missed out on this formative experience, I might have never discovered some of the career-forming tricks that brought me to where I am.  My favourite:  Focus your best efforts on what you’re most passionate about, and eventually you’ll find people who pay you for it. Also known as, “The harder you try, the luckier you get.”