What did you study at A-level (or equivalent) and why did you select those subjects?
I studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I chose those subjects because they were factual and had a 'right and wrong' answer. They were also subjects with a theoretical basis but could be applied to real world scenarios outside of a classroom setting.
What degree/PhD did you study?
I completed a Mechanical Engineering (MEng). I am currently studying for a PhD in Engineering based on Scaling-up Perovskite Solar Cells.
What inspired you to choose and study your degree subject?
I always enjoyed the sciences and maths in school but wanted to study a subject that could lead to making an impact in the world; one that I would see in my lifetime. Mechanical engineering was the best choice: it used science and maths with a mixture of theory and practical work but had a broad scope of further refining my research as my career continued. Meaning I could look into a number of different avenues.
What is your current job and what do you enjoy about it?
I am currently studying for my PhD in Engineering; specifically, renewable energies and scaling up Perovskite Solar Cells for the future of commercialisation. I enjoy being one of the first people to try to solve an issue where there is absolute freedom for what can be researched and experimented with.
Do you have an area of expertise / research?
Perovskite Solar Cells.
What has been your most exciting project or career role?
My current role as a PhD student has been and is my most exciting project so far. It is a topic that is very important in the world today and the capabilities of the research are endless. If I can help in a small step towards cleaner energy generation, I feel my research has been successful. I also enjoy working with people from different backgrounds and learning their perspectives on a problem to help in solving the issue.
What are your top tips for working in your industry/sector?
There is no harm in trying a little of everything. I have completed projects in business, non-destructive testing and robotics during my undergraduate. Now I am researching into renewable energies that work with additive manufacturing. Take advantage of the fact that engineering has a wide range of topics for you to investigate as the skills and knowledge you learn will cross over between all fields.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given? and any advice you'd like to share?
Always ask; this is apparent in all aspects of life but especially in research. If you want to try a new experiment or a different research topic or have seen an opportunity that would benefit your work, just ask. If the answer is a no, then you would be no worse off than you were before.
A piece of advice I would give is to be confident in yourself and your abilities, you are where you are because you deserve to be there. There will be difficult times in your studies, especially if you are in a minority, but if you are confident in what you know then that is one less obstacle against you.
Why are you passionate about your subject / career / research / STEMM?
I am passionate about encouraging more women into STEM subjects and showing everyone how interesting and important they are in in the current world. I want more women to feel inspired to go into the STEM subjects and feel empowered in a male dominated industry. Engineering is all around us in so many ways and I want others to understand the broad and exciting scope that they could be a part of.
Find out more about Erin and keep up to date with her work on LinkedIn.