It might be six months late, but it's time to say hello to our 2017 Graduate intake!!! The UKAEA graduates have been settling in all over Culham but if you haven't has chance to meet them, here's a little bit about each of them.
First up is myself, Mark Ascott
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| Mark Ascott |
Name: Mark 'I don't stop eating' Ascott
Department: RACE Mechanical Design
University and Degree: University of Bath - Mechanical Engineering
Favourite part of degree:
My favourite part was designing a carbon fibre wheel for a formula student car. I then proceeded to spend 20 hours straight making said wheel which wasn't so fun.
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Getting to work with a variety of people, even in different countries, and having real responsibility on my project.
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Telekinesis, just to move pens and books when people aren't looking. And to steal a few chips
If you can be any animal, what and why?
A big owl, they're basically superpowered anyway. Either that or a family dog. They just live the dream.
Why UKAEA?
I want to work in the renewable energy industry and what better way than to help bring about the ultimate energy source. That and I wanted to work in technical design and put my degree to good use.
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| Darren Bookless |
Department: RACE Cybernetics
University and Degree: University of Cambridge - Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Favourite Part of Degree:
We did a robotics competition in second year, building and programming a wheeled robot to run around a course picking up bits of plastic. My team won. Woop woop.
Favourite Part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Learning to give tours of JET - it's a lot of fun being able to introduce other people to the stuff we're working on here.
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
All of them, changing at random each day. Keep it fresh. One day I might be flying to work, the next I might be spontaneously combusting. What a way to live.
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Capybara. Needs no explanation.
Why UKAEA?
I wanted to be working on something I could still care about when the work itself was a bit of a drag - fusion seems a really worthwhile possibility to be working towards.
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| Helena Livesey |
Department: RACE Mechanical
University and Degree: University of Sheffield - Mechanical Engineering
Favourite Part of Degree:
Learning about additive manufacturing
Favourite Part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Going to Sweden to finish a project I started at university
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Telekinesis
If you could be any animal, what and why?
A bird
Why UKAEA?
I didn't want to do the usual jobs, I wanted to find something exciting and that I was genuinely interested about outside of work. Fusion research definitely fits the criteria.
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| Gareth Hawkes |
Department: RACE Electrical
University and Degree: University of Bath - Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Favourite Part of Degree:
Learning about Robotics, Control and Embedded Systems (i.e. playing with Lego)
Favourite Part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Being part of a large and exciting robotics project, and the occasional free lunch
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Super-productivity, or failing that, the ability to function as a normal human being without the need to sleep (unless I wanted to)
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Octopus, so I can eat shellfish all day, hide in a tiny space all night, and yet somehow still have David Attenborough talk about my incredible brain-power on the telly.
Why UKAEA?
Because I feel the work undertaken here is important for the future, and any job where I get to wander around a warehouse high-fiving robotic arms is a good job.
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| Chris Stuart |
Name: Chris 'I love cats' Stuart
Department: Tokamak Science (JET Plasma Operations Group)
University and Degree: University of Cambridge - Mechanical Engineering with Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Favourite part of degree:
Listening to my genius Russian lecturer spout his endless knowledge about nuclear power station design and hoping he doesn't ask too many questions on the history in the exam.
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme so far:
The learning lunches - free knowledge on all sorts of areas of fusion technology + pizza = good.
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Controlling magnetic fields - when are they going to rewrite Magneto as a fusion power hero?
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Definitely a cat, and probably one with multiple families thinking that I live with them.
Why UKAEA?
I have a penchant for difficult-to-pronounce acronyms. (Say it ten times fast, if you dare.). And I suppose fusion is pretty cool.
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| Chad Meadowcroft |
Department: Electrical Engineering
University and Degree: University of Nottingham - Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Management
Favourite part of degree:
Not Management
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme:
Beautiful fellow graduates
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Laser eyes
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Dragon
Why UKAEA?
JET
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| Alexandru Capat |
Department: Codas & IT
University and Degree: University of Newcastle - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Favourite part of Degree:
Working on my final year project in the lab the whole day and seeing it grow.
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme:
The graduate scheme balances my workload and gives me a lot of self motivated learning time and training opportunities.
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Time manipulation, I'd never be late again
If you could be any animal, what and why?
A narwhal, because they're basically sea unicorns
Why UKAEA:
I particularly enjoy being around scientists and specialists in very diverse fields, it allows me to see the bigger picture and gain an insight of what different fields do and their contribution to the fusion mission.
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| AJ Morgan |
Department: Systems Engineering
University and Degree: University of Bath - Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Favourite part of degree:
Team Bath Drone Marine - helping to design an autonomous underwater vehicle.
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Learning about the different systems required for DEMO, the demonstration fusion power plant.
If you could have any superpower, what and why:
The ability to change the TV channel to the exact moment the when adverts have ended ... or flight.
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Panda - they're adorable
Why UKAEA?
I like the idea of working at the forefront of fusion technology and being part of an international collaboration that aims to develop innovative solutions.
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| Adomas Lukenskas |
Department: Central Engineering
University and Degree: Imperial College London, Nuclear Engineering
Favourite part of degree:
Nuclear Materials and Thermohydraulics
Favourite part of Graduate Scheme so far:
Being able to manage my own work load. Also taking ownership of trial DEMO Divertor fabrication project.
If you could have any superpower, what and why?
Teleportation. I would be able to travel anywhere, also I would get myself a space suit and go out of space... to infinity and beyond. Literally the best superpower
If you could be any animal, what and why?
Dinosaur. It would be great to see whats up back in Pangaea
Why UKAEA?
I like both engineering and science. UKAEA is a place where these two disciplines are interlinked, and complement each other. UKAEA is the place to be for me.
That's all of us. We look forward to meeting you all eventually.
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| The 2017 Graduate Intake (minus Alexandru) |