This September UKAEA welcomed its biggest graduate intake across a wider range of roles than ever before. As their induction has taken place virtually, this is an intake like no other. And since the later assessment centres went ahead online, some of the new starters have never set foot on the Culham site!
This hasn’t affected their enthusiasm, as they’ve already got stuck into graduate training, the environment forum, learning lunches and even graduate recruitment fairs. While we’re not yet able to welcome the new cohort in-person, we have some introductions to go by in the meantime.
University & Course: University of York, MPhys Physics with Astrophysics
Department you are working in: Tokamak Science
Where are you based? Abingdon
Why UKAEA? I found a passion for fusion energy in my 3rd year at university, I then went on a university organised visit to the site and it had a huge impact on me. I decided then that I wanted to work for UKAEA when I graduated.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Learning and getting involved in projects that I know will have a real positive impact.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I am quite crafty so I like drawing and crochet currently and occasionally baking.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? New York
What’s your favourite book? Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz
Who inspires you? Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Give a fun fact about yourself: When I was an air cadet, I flew a powered glider for a little while.
University & Course: University of Exeter. Electrical Engineering
Department you are working in: MAST and STEP
Where are you based? Cowley, Oxford
Why UKAEA? Immensely satisfying to work on a project that could be the energy of the future.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Going on site for the first time!
What do you like to do in your spare time? Attempting to cook house meals and play memes on the trombone
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? River Exe estuary cycle to Dawlish beach on a sunny day. Appreciated it a lot more during the main lockdown
What’s your favourite book? Ready Player One
Who inspires you? Faiz Rahman and his sourdough making capabilities
Give a fun fact about yourself: Completed the UK 3 peaks challenge by public transport (13 trains, 5 buses plus some actual walking)
University & Course: University of Birmingham, BSc Nuclear Science and Materials, MSc Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactor
Department you are working in: Engineering Realisation Group
Where are you based? Jericho, Oxford
Why UKAEA? Everyone here is pulling in the same direction, is committed to the same goals and there is a great network of diverse talents. It's great knowing I can contribute to climate change solutions and to the country.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Taking responsibility for my own work, collaborating with people from diverse disciplines and learning from them, meeting everyone in person once the pandemic permits!
What do you like to do in your spare time? Equality, inclusion, outreach and representation are all very important to me, especially that which concerns inclusion and representation of black women. I spend a guilty amount of time on of social media, it's important for much more than entertainment. Like most, I love music, movies and art.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Amsterdam (so far!)
What’s your favourite book? At the moment, Natives by Akala
Who inspires you? My Mum
Give a fun fact about yourself: I was the vice president for the nuclear society at my university
University & Course: University of Manchester, MEng Computer Science
Department you are working in: CODAS&IT
Where are you based? Abingdon
Why UKAEA? It combines my interests in fusion energy and programming, with the ability to work for the betterment of humanity. Plus I get to work at the hottest place in the solar system!
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Being able to continue my education and develop my skills, while working with a great community of people.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Reading (both books and blogs), computer games (both playing and watching), and cycling occasionally.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Canada - to visit family and enjoy the wonderful landscapes.
What’s your favourite book? Of the ones I've read this year, definitely The Fifth Risk - nominally about a certain President, but actually about the many amazing people who work in the US government.
Who inspires you? People who give themselves to public service, with often little to no thanks (hence my favourite book).
Give a fun fact about yourself: My interest in programming was sparked by a game I stumbled upon 12 years ago - I'm not sure where I'd be now if I hadn't found it.
University & Course: University of Nottingham – Mechanical Engineering
Department you are working in: Central Engineering
Why UKAEA? I remember my A-Level teachers saying it would never be viable in our lifespan, so when I saw the work that UKAEA was doing it stole my interest… Also who doesn’t want to make stars for a living?
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Getting to learn different parts of the UKAEA and eventually being able to meet the other grads
What do you like to do in your spare time? Gym, gaming and a few pints on the weekend
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Budapest – great tourist destinations in the day and also a great nightlife
Who inspires you? Dwayne Johnson – managed to beat mental illnesses and become the person we all know today.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I have the initials JC and was born on Christmas day
University & Course: University of Cambridge, Mechanical Engineering
Department you are working in: RACE
Where are you based? Oxford
Why UKAEA? Feels immoral to work on something that isn’t at least tangentially related to the energy/climate crisis, and this is a cool thing that is.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Meeting people…?
What do you like to do in your spare time? Ride my bike, play the piano
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Isle of Islay in Scotland. Pretty, fresh seafood, and when I went for a swim and a seal popped up next to me.
What’s your favourite book? Any of the Thomas the tank engine Railway Series, read them so much the covers fell off.
Who inspires you? Brunel did a lot before he drove himself to an early death
Give a fun fact about yourself: I jointly hold the world record for the most number of people playing the same piano at the same time (89)
University & Course: University of Birmingham, MSc Physics
Department you are working in: Engineering Realisation Group (Technology Department)
Where are you based? Abingdon
Why UKAEA? By my final year I'd settled on wanting to work in sustainable energy, preferably fusion so UKAEA being one of the leading players and offering a well-regarded graduate scheme seemed like a perfect organisation to introduce me to the field.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Having the chance to engage in personal and professional development that is decoupled from my regular work in the organisation
What do you like to do in your spare time? Any type of sport or outdoor activity (I am happy to give anything a shot and won't need much convincing). I particularly enjoy Muay Thai, dance and hiking (+surfing and snowboarding when I get the chance to). When I'm not doing sports, I love to cook and read.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Probably Amsterdam or Scotland. Amsterdam because it was one of my first experiences traveling alone and I met loads of people I had incredible experiences with. Scotland because I love the rugged nature (and people), as well as being a bit of a single malt scotch nerd.
What’s your favourite book? "The subtle art of not giving a f*ck" Its profound but very approachable.
Who inspires you? Elon Musk. He may be a terrible public speaker, but he's definitely got some good ideas.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I was born and raised in southern Germany in the same town, Ulm, that Einstein was born in. Incidentally, we are also proud owners of the world's largest clock tower and grain silo.
University & Course: Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering at the University of Sheffield
Department you are working in: RACE – Cybernetics
Where are you based? Oxford
Why UKAEA? Viable fusion? sign me up
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? I'm super looking forward to continue learning, and meeting some amazing people throughout fusion research.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Visit beautiful places in nature through hiking and camping, baking, house plants!
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Shark bay in Western Australia - milky way, dolphins, humpback whales singing, and beautiful sunsets
What’s your favourite book? Favourite trilogy of books has to be His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Who inspires you? Everyone who is continuously trying to improve themselves including myself.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I enjoy swimming outdoors throughout the year
University & Course: Oxford Brookes University – BSc Quantity Surveying & Commercial Management
Department you are working in: Campus Development
Where are you based? Abingdon
Why UKAEA? I’m local to the area and have known about the site for a long time – including a stint of Sunday morning football for a couple of years! Excited to join an organisation that is contributing to positive future development, and eager to play a part in creating the spaces to do so.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Continuing my professional development while engaging with fellow young professionals.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I’m a keen sportsman; cricket is my main activity, but I’ll turn my hand to anything if it seems fun! Outside of sport, I enjoy writing and attending pub quizzes, as well as boxsets on Netflix and movie marathons.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Recently went on a cruise to South America and Antarctica – having dinner while watching penguins playing on an iceberg was quite the experience!
What’s your favourite book? Either ‘Inferno’ by Dante, or The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski – slightly different styles and content, but both excellent!
Who inspires you? Muhammad Ali; rose to the top of his field, then lost his position due to upholding his beliefs. Had the personal resilience to make it back to the top again, transcending the sport while being a pillar of philanthropy and a champion of humanitarian causes.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I can identify the flag of every country in the world!
University & Course: University of Bristol – Mechanical Engineering
Department you are working in: RACE
Where are you based? Oxford
Why UKAEA? There’s a wide range of interesting projects across many fields. Also Fusion is exciting
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Learning lots, trying new things and working on projects for ITER!
What do you like to do in your spare time? Films, Music, Hiking, Cooking, Ale
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Argyll, Scotland
Who inspires you? Dick Feynman, Donald Fagan, Trish Keenan, Barry Chuckle, Faiz Rahman, Harambe, etc
Give a fun fact about yourself: I’ve never broken a bone before
University & Course: The University of Hull, MPhys Physics & Astrophysics
Department you are working in: Advanced Computing
Why UKAEA? Fusion energy research combines my academic experience simulating nuclear fusion in stars with my personal interest in not going extinct.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Meeting new friends and getting out of my comfort zone (ew) by trying new things.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I regularly run and play tabletop roleplaying games and put more hours than I care to admit into video games. I'm pretty house-proud, and when doing the cooking/cleaning I enjoy putting on podcasts, audiobooks, or lo-fi-beats-to-study/relax-to. Other than that, I love a glass of whisky and a board game and/or movie night. In the rare event I do leave the house, I like to travel to a new place and explore (especially if there's a good museum or zoo!).
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Amsterdam for great food, great people, and plenty to see/do & The North Yorkshire Moors for the climate, meandering hikes, and relaxing in nature.
What’s your favourite book(s)? Apocalypse World (D. Vincent Baker), Blueprint (Nicholas A. Christakis), Cosmos (Carl Sagan), Dune (Frank Herbert).
Who inspires you? Spongebob Squarepants, and (moreso with each passing year) Squidward Tentacles.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I have a published article in the European Journal of Physics about folding shrinky dinks with a heat lamp and a black sharpie.
University & Course: Manchester, Physics MPhys
Department you are working in: Advanced Scientific Computing
Where are you based? Oxford
Why UKAEA? I wanted to work somewhere exciting and ethical, with real potential to seriously help fix a lot of the 21st century's problems.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Maybe one day being allowed on site.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Climb, play poker, and identify wild mushrooms.
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Anywhere mountainous with rocks, trees, and running water.
What’s your favourite book? The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Who inspires you? My cats, who have somehow managed to achieve a life of effortless happiness.
Give a fun fact about yourself: I make a mean fondant potato.
University & Course: Royal Holloway, MSc. Information Security
Department you are working in: CODAS&IT
Where are you based?: Reading
Why UKAEA? I found UKAEA’s work very interesting and wanted to contribute to it in any way possible
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Gaining hands-on experience, making big contributions to projects, learning more about fusion
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to play guitar (my favourite way to unwind) and exercise
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Switzerland for the views, New Delhi for the food
What’s your favourite book? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Who inspires you? My parents
Give a fun fact about yourself: When I travel, I spend more time visiting local restaurants and less time visiting the main tourist attractions
University & Course: Open University, Engineering BEng
Department you are working in: RACE
Where are you based? Didcot
Why UKAEA? The latest technologies and developments in engineering and science. An environment where personal development is encouraged.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Using the 20% personal development time.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Climbing, Hiking & Skiing
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? Jasper, Alberta
What’s your favourite book? Marching Powder
Give a fun fact about yourself: Qualified ski instructor. Not so useful in Oxfordshire.
University & Course: MSc Robotics and Autonomous Systems - University of Bath (2020)
Department you are working in: RACE cybernetics as a Graduate Mechatronics Engineer
Where are you based? Didcot parkway
Why UKAEA? My first point of interest when joining UKAEA was from watching a video on a teleoperator manipulating the mascot. It gave me the drive to get into RACE as well and get an opportunity to work closely with MASCOT in the future.
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? To learn on current tech in nuclear robotics and simultaneously contribute to the project I'm under and make new friends (at least virtually). Looking at the grad scheme as more of a transition from university life to a professional career push.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to cook, try out different cuisines, cycling and just pack my bag and go on weekend trips
What’s your favorite place you’ve visited? The Marina Beach back in Chennai in my home country
What is your favourite food and why? Dum Biryani - Popular Indian subcontinent dish served with basmati rice and meat usually chicken or lamb
Who inspires you? APJ Abdul Kalam
Give a fun fact about yourself: I have a name for everything in my house 🙂
University & Course: The University of Sheffield, Mechanical Engineering
Department you are working in: H3AT
Where are you based? Oxford
Why UKAEA? Someone told me privilege days exist, fusion is pretty cool too I guess
What are you most looking forward to on the Graduate Scheme? Getting on site for the first time
What do you like to do in your spare time? Climbing, Hiking, Building things
What’s your favourite place you’ve visited? The Lake District
What’s your favourite book? Eastern Grit by Chris Craggs
Who inspires you? Jonathan Pearl
Give a fun fact about yourself: I built a climbing wall at my house
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