Sarah Medley
Background
Physicist – I studied physics at university, but I’m now
becoming increasingly interested in the engineering side of things!
What year did you finish the graduate scheme?
2015
What’s your current role?
I’m a Tritium Plant Engineer in the Tritium Engineering and
Science Group at CCFE. We operate the tritium plant to provide JET with the
tritium fuel it needs for fusion experiments, and we also undertake scientific
research using tritium.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a range of different projects,
including upgrading some of the tritium plant systems in preparation for the
next set of deuterium-tritium experiments at JET, and developing a small
experimental facility to investigate the interaction of tritium with
fusion-relevant materials.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so
far and why was it interesting?
I’m happy to say that all the projects I’ve worked on so far
at CCFE have been interesting, because they have involved learning so many new
things!
What advice would you give the fresh-faced, younger
version of yourself before starting university (if any!)
I would say don’t be afraid of
doing things wrong or making mistakes, as the best way to develop yourself is
to go outside your comfort zone!
Ant Shaw
(Picture: Ant Shaw (left) and Alex Meakins (right) presenting the JET Data Dasboard)
(Picture: Ant Shaw (left) and Alex Meakins (right) presenting the JET Data Dasboard)
Background
Studied physics at university
What year did you finish the graduate scheme?
2015
What’s your current role?
Software engineer with the data and coding group
What are you currently working on?
A number of projects, with the largest 2 being the JET Data
Dashboard (a web-based interface for searching and browsing through JET session
and pulse data) and the CPF (Central Physics File) System (a high-level
database with a small subset of important data for each pulse, allowing more
easy data analysis over large numbers of different pulses).
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so far and why was it interesting?
Can I pick 2?
-
Analysing the effects of Resonant Magnetic Perturbations using
MAST Doppler Back-Scattering. I was essentially given raw diagnostic data, and
had to apply everything I knew of the physics of the situation and data
analysis techniques to produce the end results.
-
Creating the JET Data Dashboard. Building a tool which I wanted
to use was very satisfying, and I had to learn an awful lot to even start the
project, which was very interesting.
What advice would you give the fresh-faced, younger version of yourself before starting university (if any!)
Take any physics-based work you can get, especially talking to
academics at your university for summer projects. Also get familiar with
computer programming as a concept and with a little practical experience.
Regardless of where you end up as a physicist, you will be programming at some
point as data analysis is much easier than with a pen and paper!
Matti Coleman
Background
Mechanical engineering with
renewable energy (MEng) – University of Edinburgh
What year did you finish the graduate scheme?
2014
What’s your current role?
DEMO Design Integration and
Project Coordination Officer at EUROfusion
What are you currently working on?
For the past year and a half I
have been on a secondment based near Munich, Germany, at the Power Plant
Physics & Technology Department in EUROfusion, coordinating research and
design activities on the European demonstrational fusion reactor known as DEMO.
I liaise with researchers across Europe, chiefly concerning remote maintenance
and superconducting magnets, for which I am responsible. I also design parts of
DEMO and coordinate design and analysis tasks on DEMO reactor integration
issues, which can incorporate a wide range of topics, such as neutronics,
electromagnetic loads, remote maintainability, thermohydraulic efficiency, and
structural integrity.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so
far and why was it interesting?
Tough question! I’ve been lucky
enough to work on several very interesting projects whilst at UKAEA, including
DEMO Remote Maintenance, building the UK’s own MAST Upgrade reactor,
the Table Top Plasma, AMAZE, and now DEMO once again. It comes down to personal
preference of course, and I have always been more inclined to work at the
conceptual level, so for me working on DEMO has been the most interesting. I
love coming up with ideas and working with only a few fixed boundary
conditions; I enjoy being able to turn the whole design on its head with a
simple “what if..?” question. Working on DEMO has that element to it and, as we
are designing an entire reactor, it also encompasses all of the tokamak
engineering design fields, most of which come up on a daily basis – so I get a
little of everything!
What advice would you give the fresh-faced, younger
version of yourself before starting university (if any!)
Try to combine doing something
you love with making a difference.