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Time Well SpentGetting the inside track on work placements

An Institute of Physics Case Study | February 2013

V i s i t o u r b l o g www.iopblog.org/tag/work-placements

ContentsIntroduction 2

Callum Boocock ISIS Synchrotron Group – Science & Technology Facilities Council 3

Robert Brigg National Physical Laboratory 4

Marta Caballero IXICO 5

Elizabeth Crossley Selex Galileo 6

Tom Dale Kromek 7

Christian Donnerer Thoughtified 8

Emma-Louise Eldret noise.co.uk | noise and vibration consultants 9

Edwin Lizarazo Staplethorne Ltd 10

Rob Masters Thermo Fisher Scientific 11

Ben Monteith Unilever 12

Fiona Muirhead Selex Galileo 13

Richard Newton Williams F1 14

Elias Pambou Freescale Semiconductor 15

Edgar Simmons Unilever 16

Jacob Smith Babcock International 17

James Taine TWI Technical Consultancy 18

Nick L Theodorou G24i 19

Oliver Whear Liquids Research Ltd 20

Wan Ying Ho (Viola) Freescale Semiconductor 21

1Time well spent: Getting the inside track on work placements


2Time well spent: Getting the inside track on work placements

Top 40 Work Placements SchemeThe Institute of Physics offers penultimate-year undergraduate physics students in the UK and Ireland bursaries to carry out eight-week summer placements in a company of their choice.

The scheme not only gives students the opportunity to gain practical work experience, but also presents employers with opportunities to find new talent for their organisation.

For both students and employers, this is a highly rewarding scheme. Students receive first-hand experience of working for an organisation committed to physicists and physics. In return, employers gain a fresh perspective and new ideas from their work-placement students.

For in-depth Q&As with select students and companies featured in this booklet, visit our blog from March 2013 at www.iopblog.org/tag/work-placements/.

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Time well spent: Getting the inside track on work placements

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University: Durham University

Course: MSci Maths and Physics

Placement: ISIS Synchrotron Group – Science & Technology Facilities Council

Callum Boocock, Age 21

I would recommend that anyone interested in physics should look for an IOP work placement that interests them and go for it. My time with the ISIS synchrotron group was very enjoyable, I got to see fascinating machines, I learned an incredible amount about how the synchrotron works and I gained many new skills. On top of all this everyone I worked with was very friendly and very interesting. Altogether the experience was probably my best working experience to date and was thoroughly worthwhile.

Having completed my placement I am now even more certain that I want to work in some sort of applied physics and am now much more interested in particle accelerators. The experience has also made me want to further develop my computing skills as I realise how useful these will be in the future. I can certainly say that following this placement, I would be very happy to work in a similar job in the future.

I began looking for a summer placement to gain some work experience in a more scientific environment. I found the summer placement with the ISIS synchrotron group through the IOP website and was immediately interested, as the idea of working with such an impressive machine seemed amazing and was exactly the sort of opportunity I was looking for.

Following my application and a short phone interview I was very pleased to be offered the placement and eager to begin. The only remaining issues were finding accommodation for two months in Oxfordshire, which was a long distance from where I live, as well as finding transport in and out of the workplace. I would advise anyone applying for the scheme to start looking into these issues as soon as possible.

The placement at ISIS was a brilliant experience in which I learned many new skills as well as developing those I already possessed. The project was a beam-based alignment of position monitors around the synchrotron and involved adjusting variables of the beam inside the synchrotron, taking measurements, then analysing the data in order to correct the beam trajectory.

This involved data analysis, which I was already familiar with, but also involved using software such as LabView to automate data collection, which was something new to me. Following the collection of position data from the beam, which was the bulk of the project, I also had the opportunity to run simulations of the beam using methodical accelerator design software to compare against the results.

After completing the project I wrote a machine physics report and also gave a presentation about what I had done and what I had found. This gave me practice at report writing and also greatly developed my presentational skills as I had not previously had many opportunities to present work to an audience.

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One of the things I think I will take most from my experience is that in experimental science things never happen according to plan. Progress is often very slow and many problems are encountered, which you have to solve.

I did not manage to get as much data as I would have liked as the last week was very rushed (partly due to the loss of power in the whole laboratory).

I have to say, however, that I do now think that experimental physics is something that I do not wish to do. I found that the excitement wore off after a while and I felt that things happened very slowly, but I suspect that is the nature of rigour involved.

I would also like to say I feel very grateful towards IOP for the generous bursary they awarded me. I definitely would not have been able to live away from home for two months without it.

University: University of Cambridge

Course: Natural Sciences

Placement: National Physical Laboratory

Robert Brigg, Age 20

“I applied for an eight-week placement at the National Physical Laboratory, which had been advertised on the IOP website. The National Physical Laboratory is a large research laboratory in Surrey. The area I was working in was applications of microwave signals. My project in particular was a small part in developing and improving satellite imaging. Even though this is a field I do not intend to go into, I learned a lot (much more than I will do in my degree) about power measurement techniques. I had never heard of NPL before but I have since found out what an important part they play in science and innovation in the UK and the rest of the world. I had spent many hours researching and applying for internships for the summer – they were all unsuccessful apart from this one.

However, I am quite happy how things turned out. My colleagues at NPL were very helpful and made me feel very welcome. I never felt afraid to ask anything, although, as I expected, I did feel overwhelmed at first because I was surrounded by experts in subjects I know only a little about and the first few weeks were spent learning a great deal.

NPL sees real value in offering work placements. It gives students the ability to develop and grow their skills, helping them to define what they would like out of their career as well as giving them the opportunity to network and build business relationships. We see real output from students so it benefits us as a commercial business and also gives our more junior members of staff the opportunity to mentor and learn how to manage individuals.Sally Williams | National Physical Laboratory

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University: UCL

Course: MSci Medical Physics

Placement: IXICO

Marta Caballero, Age 21

When I first heard Derek Hill, founder and CEO of IXICO, speak at a careers event at UCL, I learned about how much physicists’ skills are valued in companies and I was very much attracted to the services IXICO provides. It came through as a very academic, research-oriented and rapidly expanding medical imaging company, and I immediately showed interest in possibly interning or working there. I was also very attracted by the prospect of joining a company that aims to improve healthcare. I truly enjoyed experiencing the bridge between business and science during my weeks at IXICO.

I would advise someone applying to the scheme to find a company that interests them and where they believe they can gain valuable experience. I believe it helps to show a lot of interest in potentially working for them and perhaps extending the internship. Once inside the company already, it is key to make the most out of every experience and to show commitment in every task you are given.

One of the most valuable things I learned during my placement is how to independently face problems and find solutions. Having been the only intern at IXICO, I had to seek my own help when needed. I have also enhanced my communication and teamwork skills in an extremely friendly and helpful environment.

I have truly enjoyed working in such a young, creative and helpful team. Sharing experiences with others that were also new to the company both inside and outside the workspace has truly enriched my experience. It has also been great to see how science and business comes together at IXICO. The least enjoyable part of my internship has been feeling a lack of guidance at times when there was a deadline coming up and nobody was free to help. However, I have enjoyed the struggle of finding solutions to my own everyday problems.

In the short term, I hope to complete my undergraduate project at IXICO and complete my degree with first class honours. I am also considering pursuing a PhD in medical imaging or medical statistics after graduating from UCL.

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Elizabeth Crossley, Age 23

University: University of Southampton

Course: MPhys Physics with Photonics

Placement: Selex Galileo

“I was attracted to Selex Galileo quite simply because I’d worked there before, although that did not take away the nerves that came with the interview I had to do before an offer letter was issued.

Preparing for an interview in a company where you are unknown is in some respects straightforward because you know that they’ll want to talk about what is on your CV, and might ask questions such as “Do you think you can work well in a team?” or “How would you feel about having a job that requires you to work with your hands a lot?” However, applying for a job where you’re an “insider” makes anticipating questions more difficult. Thankfully, I was asked questions that I was comfortably able to answer, which tested my knowledge of the process I would be working on again.

I worked in the Semiconductor Process Engineering department. Selex Galileo makes infrared detectors and the process engineers manage and refine the manufacturing processes that go towards making some of the components of the detectors.

My job consisted of characterising a number of existing processes within photolithography, so that problems during production in the future could be more easily resolved. The research I carried out will also allow production methods to be optimised. This required me to work in a cleanroom for the majority of the time, doing a large amount of experimental work. Naturally, alongside all experimental work, comes the in-depth analysis of results and drawing conclusions, so I did spend a good proportion of my time working in a typical office environment too.

Practical working will really help my current academic career, as it forces you to be able to work efficiently, and take concise detailed notes. Regular meetings to discuss the progression of my work could be a little intimidating. Ultimately, however, they are akin to academic vivas, where I know I need more practice.

The skills I developed at Selex are highly useful and transferable. The theory I learned was equally important. I have found that applied knowledge of semiconductor physics and processes have been massively helpful in some of the modules I have studied at university, and I am certain this understanding will continue to be of benefit in my final year.

Of course there are negatives to summer placements (as with permanent work), such as fairly restricted holiday time, early starts and late finishes. I have also found that internships are never really long enough; just as you start to find your feet and gain a real understanding of the business and processes, you are due to finish. As I have worked at Selex before, I hit the ground running and I endeavoured to develop my understanding of industrial protocols and problem solving – a little outside the remit of my summer placement, but surely useful for a future career in process engineering.

I do not have specific career aspirations at the moment, but I do know that I want to work in industry as I am fascinated by the processes and can appreciate what manufacturers are trying to achieve with each batch.

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University: University of Warwick

Course: BSc Physics

Placement: Kromek

Tom Dale, Age 20

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I had my eight-week placement with Kromek, a pioneer in digital colour imaging for X-rays, which is based in Sedgefield, County Durham.

The knowledge that I would be working with more than £300,000 worth of crystal growth equipment on a daily basis really excited and attracted me to this particular employer. Also, I was aware that LabVIEW, a program I had already touched on in my laboratory sessions at university, played a fundamental part of my role at the company and therefore the placement gave me an excellent opportunity to apply my skills in a real working environment.

Although only eight weeks long, the experience is invaluable for any student. Not only do you gain some very impressive work experience, but also the knowledge about how a company operates and the skills that you gain will all be vital when looking for jobs in the near future. I gained many skills, from being able to deliver a project from an idea to a suitable practical piece of kit on time and on budget to being able to work alongside and develop relationships with experienced employees.

From my own experience, the most satisfying part of the placement came near the end when I started to see my project taking shape and began implementing it within the production facility at Kromek. Also, it was extremely rewarding knowing that the employees that would be using my project were very happy with the final outcome, and are using it still on a daily basis. It is very satisfying to know that your temporary work with an employer is put to regular practical use rather than just thrown and left on a shelf!

In my opinion, the least enjoyable part of the placement is giving up the majority of your summer holiday for more work while your friends are at home partying! However, having said that, I met many new people and explored new places as a result of the placement opportunity.

For anyone thinking of applying to IOP’s Work Placement Scheme I recommend that you make your CV and cover letter as specific as possible to that particular employer. It is definitely worth spending the extra time personalising each CV rather than sending the same generic one to everybody. Also, don’t just rely on your grades to make yourself stand out – pretty much everyone who applied for my placement had exceptional qualifications and so this will not make you a successful candidate alone. Extra skills are very important, particularly those relevant to the placement. Good luck!

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University: University of Edinburgh

Course: MPhys Physics

Placement: Thoughtified | Web development start-up

Christian Donnerer, Age 22

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I was attracted to this employer because I enjoyed programming in my degree and wanted to build on these skills. Very much like my research at university, I was given a project to work on independently in the eight weeks of the placement. The goal was to develop an algorithm for tiger face recognition, which would be used for wildlife conservation. This in turn allows users to upload pictures of tigers and identify them online (tigernation.org), along with GPS data, each individual tiger may be tracked and followed. The advantage is that the system is completely non-intrusive and allows members of the public to help preserve the shrinking tiger population.

Although I had no previous experience in computer vision, the skills I acquired in my degree, like reviewing literature, understanding complex mathematics, and experimenting and analysing data made it fairly easy for me to work in an unfamiliar area. I believe this to be one of the main aims of the programme: to demonstrate where the skills learned in studying physics can be applied.

Apart from learning a great deal about computer vision, I picked up C/C++ as a programming language, along with parallel computing techniques for using multi core processors. Also, as I worked independently on this project, I gained skills in work management and writing reports for company shareholders. As I am planning to do a PhD on graduating, a physics research placement may have been more beneficial, but for any future employment outside of academia work experience is vital and I believe this placement will help my career in the long run.

The key to success when applying is to know what a good application looks like. I made extensive use of the guides available on the IOP website and also asked for direct feedback from my university’s career service, the latter being especially insightful. It is important to cover the required skills set out by the employer, highlight your unique selling points and ensure a good standard of English.

Thoughtified has experienced great value from work-placement schemes. Hiring placement students has enabled the team to develop experience and expertise in areas where it would not otherwise be possible due to typical project constraints. Placement schemes have enabled us to increase the scope of our projects, thereby extending barriers and increasing overall innovation as a result. Our team has learned as much from hiring placement students as they have learned from working with us. Aaron Mason | Director | Thoughtified

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University: Swansea University

Course: BSc Physics

Placement: noise.co.uk | noise and vibration consultants

Emma-Louise Eldret, Age 20

“It was a different field of work I had never considered before. The placement outlined seemed interesting and would involve learning skills that would hopefully be helpful in the future.

I have learned a lot about how a business works. Also I have used different equipment to that which is used in labs at university like sound level meters and different calibration equipment. As I spent most of my placement collecting environmental noise data I have learned a lot about the unpredictable British weather and how it affects uncertainty in measurements.

The least enjoyable part of the placement was definitely sitting outside collecting data in the rain; however, the results were worth it in the end!

This is a brilliant opportunity and I learned so much through my summer placement.

I would advise, however, to make sure you want to spend your summer doing whatever you have applied to do, to ensure you will be committed and get the most out of the experience.

Also this will ensure the place is not wasted, denying someone else the opportunity.

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University: University of Southampton

Course: MPhys Physics with Mathematics

Placement: Staplethorne Ltd

Edwin Lizarazo, Age 30

The IOP work placement scheme gave me the opportunity to work during summer for a research and development company, giving me hands-on experience in algorithm validation, the opportunity to interact with experts on different fields and also to gain new contacts.

I was attracted to Staplethorne Ltd as the project they were offering seemed to be challenging. It was going to expand my knowledge on C++ and was minimally supervised,

which meant that my discipline and approach to problem solving was going to be tested. The summer placement led to an offer as a consultant for the company, which will fit very well around my studies. Now that the placement is over, I am looking forward to finishing my degree and to starting a PhD in theoretical physics, which has always been the goal and for which the skills learned during the placement will prove to be of the utmost importance.

Staplethorne Ltd is a micro SME based in Devon. We specialise in development of sensors and instrumentation products, often working in collaboration with university inventors to exploit their IPR.

Like many small high-tech businesses that need to do everything from R&D to manufacture to sales, it is difficult to find quality time to focus on a single complex technical challenge.

Last summer, we employed an outstanding theoretical physics student on the IOP Top 40 scheme who was able to pull the strands together of our work to date on the topic and move us forward in understanding the signal processing mathematics on a client/partner project.

The IOP Top 40 scheme has the clear benefit of providing the funding for the placement but, additionally, it also attracted a stronger field of candidates than we could attract by ourselves.

Keith Barfoot | Staplethorne Ltd

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“University: University of Sheffield


Placement: Thermo Fisher Scientific

Rob Masters, Age 21

After enjoying experimental project work within my degree, I was looking to spend my summer on a project where the work was real and actually helped to improve something. Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cambridge offered an IOP placement aimed at someone interested in a career in commercial research and development – this matched me perfectly.

The majority of IOP placements initially asked only for a CV and covering letter in application. While this certainly makes the process far less painful than the tedious assessments some larger firms force you through, it does mean that you have to work harder to stand out among fellow candidates. For me the most effective way of doing this is to have a great covering letter. This needs to convey all the reasons why you want the placement and why you are a good match for it, while remaining to-the-point and punchy. Mine ended up very short – but I wrote and rewrote it to make sure it read well and would make the reader sit up and pay attention.

Fortunately, I was offered the placement and tasked with investigating ways of improving an optical drift correction algorithm on a form of atomic emission spectrometer. This involved testing for flaws in the initial algorithm, and developing other possible implementations of it.

The working environment at Thermo Fisher was something I had not experienced before. A big shock was the freedom I had over how my project progressed. For the majority of the placement I was given a list of objectives to achieve, and it was up to me how I got there. Of course, people were more than willing to help out if I needed it.

At first this unnerved me a little as at university there is often a pre-defined path to follow in experimental work.

I soon came to relish the extra responsibility, however; it felt great that people trusted me to get things done without constant guidance. This made me determined to work hard, as I wanted to repay this trust with some good results.

I had to quickly adapt to working with colleagues, and presenting results to my supervisors with confidence and clarity. I was soon reminded of the importance of thorough note-taking and report-writing; as dull as it can be, it was necessary in order to monitor where I was up to and decide what to do next. Otherwise I would find myself aimlessly repeating the same experiments with little idea of what I wanted to achieve from them.

Ultimately, I found the placement rewarding, enjoyable and a great learning experience. I spent my summer in an exciting and productive way, and have a fantastic addition to my CV as a result. I can safely say that I am now seriously considering a career in research and development once I graduate having seen how satisfying a job in the field can be.

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“University: The University of Manchester


Placement: Unilever

Ben Monteith, Age 22

I applied to Unilever as part of 10 or so companies that appealed to me as part of the IOP Top 40 Work Placements Scheme. I had no work experience relevant to physics whatsoever and with my last year looming I was determined to find some sort of placement throughout the summer! I was looking for some exposure to an applied physics field, and Unilever’s research and development department seemed like a natural choice; it offered both high-quality research facilities and experience in a sizeable business environment.

Before I heard about the scheme, I had applied to four or five other placements, which all took up a lot of time, with very thorough graduate-scheme-like application and interview processes. The benefit of this scheme is that all the employers, whose placements would usually lie under the radar, are all in one place. The application process is also significantly less time consuming, as a CV and covering letter is usually all that is required for each application (usually followed by a telephone interview). Don’t let this fool you, however, as each placement application will need to be significantly “targeted” for each company.

During my placement I was given the task of analysing a new piece of equipment. Initial measurements proved difficult and so a long process of elimination took up the majority of the placement. Individual decision making and independent learning skills were significantly developed throughout.

It was also important to be pragmatic – for example, there was little point in pursuing avenues irrelevant to the project outcome, which revealed some insight into what further education, such as a PhD project, may involve.

The most enjoyable parts of the placement were getting to use cutting-edge technology, and gaining an introduction to high-tech biological physics, which are both things that the usual undergraduate lab cannot offer. As well as this, the environment I was working in was relaxed, engaging and friendly, which I greatly appreciated. It was fantastic to gain an understanding of the level of depth needed for good scientific enquiry, and how scientific research relates to product development. As a student I would have to say the least enjoyable parts were the early starts and the hour-long commute, something I hadn’t been used to in a while! But this did provide a more realistic idea of what my working life will involve further down the line.

My career aspirations have changed somewhat due to the placement. Many of the scientists recommended enquiring more seriously about a PhD, something that I hadn’t given much thought to previously. That coupled with my enjoyment of the research has given me the confidence to pursue further study. Without this placement I would still have absolutely no idea of what to do career wise, and wouldn’t have gained such a valuable insight into physics-based careers.

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University: University of Edinburgh

Course: MPhys Astrophysics

Placement: Selex Galileo

Fiona Muirhead, Age 22

I was attracted to Selex Galileo due to the opportunities it offers to use my degree in a practical manner in industry. Selex Galileo also has an excellent reputation for science-based graduate schemes in Edinburgh, which also appealed to me.

For future students applying to the scheme I think it is vital to understand how companies differ and to gain a good background knowledge of their priorities before applying. I found that you do not have to restrict your applications to companies that are directly related to your degree, as many skills you learn at university are directly applicable.

It was not instantly obvious that my placement was relevant to my degree, however, I was able to put my physics knowledge into practice, which has been extremely useful in consolidating my past experience in the subject.

I personally learned how to use Matlab along with key radar theory concepts, which will be extremely useful for the rest of my time at university. In my final week of the placement I presented my results to a small group of people in the department I was working in. This enabled me to further develop my presentation skills, giving me valuable experience that will be useful in university and my future career. It also provided me with excellent networking opportunities with members of staff and gave me a chance to reflect on how much I had gained from the placement.

The most enjoyable aspect of my placement was meeting new people and learning about their career experiences. Additionally talking to other summer students in different departments gave me a better opportunity to develop a broad overview of the company’s Edinburgh offices, which allowed me to consider possible avenues for my future career.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and it has given me invaluable experience that I hope will aid me in applying to the Selex Galileo graduate scheme in September.

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University: The University of Manchester


Placement: Williams F1

Richard Newton, Age 21

I have always been interested in motor sports, especially Formula 1, so when the opportunity arose to complete an internship at Williams F1 I knew I had to apply immediately. The placement job description also seemed to suit my academic interests and skillset, allowing me to put into practice the physics and programming knowledge in a work environment.

The placement was very competitive, as you would expect with such a high-profile company, so my advice would be to take care over every stage of the selection process, and to apply to several companies to ensure you get a placement.

I would also say that applying via the IOP Work Placement Scheme is highly beneficial; I was struggling to find physics-based internships until I came across the scheme. There are a wide range of fields the placements are in, from nuclear physics to photonics, so I found it wise to apply to the companies in the fields that interested me the most.

I was interested in computational physics, so I looked into the ones for which I could use my knowledge of C++.

Having worked on something that I was unfamiliar with to start off, I developed my research skills and ability to find relevant information from academic papers. I also improved my programming skills, having to learn new procedures and techniques to get around barriers during the project.

The least enjoyable parts of the placement were when the program I was writing did not model what I was expecting, especially when it got close to the deadline when it was required to start working. The doubt arising about whether I was able to get the project finished on time or not became increasingly stressful as time went by. It was a relief to watch the project all fall into place in the last fortnight of the placement, however.

The best part, though, has to be the activities around the Williams F1 complex; there was always something different going on. The more memorable moments include watching the Formula 1 drivers in the simulator, and having a go myself. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive the same simulator that the Formula 1 drivers use!

I am still undecided about my next steps after graduating, and may extend my stay in academia by working towards a PhD, but if any opportunities arise in Formula 1 or motor sport in general I would like to eventually return to work in that field.

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Placement: Freescale Semiconductor

Elias Pambou, Age 21

I applied for a summer internship at Freescale Semiconductor, a Texas-based company that primarily produces microcontroller chips for the technology industry. For my internship I was based in East Kilbride, near Glasgow working as part of the Product and Test Engineering team. I applied at Freescale to gain valuable experience of working life outside of university and to gain an idea of what is expected of you in terms of teamwork, presentation and practical skills. Another reason I applied was to gain a greater idea of what sort of career I would like to pursue once I do graduate.

Completing a summer internship also makes a huge difference in helping students stand out from the crowd and the scheme put in place by IOP allows students to do just this.

What attracted me to Freescale Semiconductor was the wide range of projects and tasks designed to teach the interns about both the company and industry while at the same time keeping them interested. My primary goal was to test and set product specification limits for automotive microcontrollers. My specific task over the eight weeks was to set and test specification limits on current leakage, run current and power consumption data, among others, by analysing the microcontroller test data available.

By creating official company documentation and presentation material to support findings I was able to develop some transferable skills required in industry. Discussing my findings with employees and peers in weekly meetings improved my communication, analytical and decision-making skills considerably.

Overall, the experience was one I would recommend to anyone. My advice would be to apply for summer internships with an open mind, and to focus more on the internship scheme offered by the company rather than the popularity or size of the company offering the role in order to gain the maximum from your placement experience.

It is the experience and skills you gain from the internship that most impress employers. I would also say that the location of an internship should not put you off. I admit that at first I found the 75 minute bus journey from the Glasgow Caledonian University accommodation block to the Freescale plant in East Kilbride daunting, but the experience was well worth the effort. The internship has also given me clarity in the type of career I want to pursue after university. It confirmed to me that I am best suited and enjoy the role of an analyst, and the experience has allowed me to gear my studies towards this career path.

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Placement: Unilever

Edgar Simmons, Age 21

I was attracted to Unilever as it is a global and well known company with strong research and development roots. The projects they were offering also seemed particularly interesting, each obviously utilising different parts of physics and other scientific disciplines, which I thought would be very interesting to work on.

I would recommend reducing your commute to as short a time as possible, by either sharing a car journey with someone who lives near to you or boarding near the site, as spending more than an hour travelling each way can be very draining over the course of eight weeks. I would also suggest writing consistent notes throughout the placement so you can trace your train of thought back to the beginning.

I primarily learnt time management and am now better acquainted with finding scientific papers from many different sources. I also extensively used various types of lab equipment I had not come into contact with before and have become proficient in their use.

Talking with the supervisors and other people working at the company about what they were working on and about various problems with my project was very interesting.

I also found researching and modifying existing theory to fit the circumstances of my experiment to be rewarding.

Some parts of the experiment were very time consuming and laborious, which was not so enjoyable. Also it could become frustrating when parts of the experiment did not work as expected.

While this placement has given me a great insight into working in industry and I enjoyed it, I also spoke quite a lot with various people in the company and think I will apply for a PhD. I believe a PhD would cover a lot of the parts of this placement I enjoyed while leaving my options quite open in the future.

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“University: University of Oxford


Placement: Babcock International

Jacob Smith, Age 21

I wanted to find out more about the nuclear industry before I start applying to graduate schemes, so I jumped at the chance to see what Babcock International’s Radiometric Instrument Service Team gets up to. I treated the application seriously, with a well thought out covering letter and CV sent to the Institute of Physics. I was offered the place with Babcock and soon my time at university was ending and everything was in place for me to start with them.

Glad to have a break from the university working style, I was looking forward to applying some of the knowledge I had learned on my course in a workplace environment. The work I was given involved some extra reading once I was there, but they chose something that was not completely unfamiliar to me.

The work gave me a real insight into what the company does. I saw their day-to-day running and I followed much the same

working method as a lot of their technical staff. I also saw the importance in all of the risk assessments and office safety that I had never really noticed as a student.

It was an enjoyable way to spend my summer because the work felt worthwhile, with the potential to impact the company’s decisions in the future. Also, I found how friendly everybody was; there were a lot of helpful people and they treated me just like a new worker there. Colleagues occasionally went out for a social meal or drink, and I would always be spending tea breaks with my supervisor discussing recent cycling or walking adventures around the area.

As a result, I am definitely glad I was there for my placement. It means I know that a role in the nuclear industry would be a good career route for me, and I have some useful experience that will help me when hunting for jobs and sending out my CV over the next few years.

If any potential applicants to the scheme wanted any pointers from me, I would suggest having an extra look through the positions on offer and through their application documents before sending them off. This is the perfect chance to try out a career before you have to pick one. But, the opportunity should be treated just like a job, it is important that you show how you can benefit from the placement as well as making a meaningful impact while you are there.

Babcock has a long-standing record of providing summer student placements. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to support a wide variety of excellent students who have contributed to our project and development work in a number of different areas. The placements provide joint benefits for both the student in terms of experience and knowledge, and Babcock through obtaining useful and meaningful project work. The students often find that this invaluable technical experience is complemented by working with like-minded physicists and engineers in a commercial operating environment. The placements can also provide opportunities for growth and an understanding of potential future career paths, which is extremely valuable for Babcock in determining candidates for future employment.Tracey Shaw | Babcock International

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University: Durham University


Placement: TWI Technical Consultancy

James Taine, Age 21

As any careers department will tell you, having some form of work experience on your CV can greatly enhance your prospects of securing a job on graduation. With this in mind, and wanting to develop my own workplace skills over the long summer break, IOP’s Work Placement Scheme gave me a great opportunity to secure funding for an internship.

After looking around the Cambridge area, and knowing I wanted to work in both a consultancy company and a department that allowed me to work on solid-state physics, TWI stood out to me as a good choice. A visit and interview confirmed my thoughts, as the department’s director came across as extremely friendly as he presented on the spot what work he wanted me to investigate.

I spent my time at TWI investigating the interactions between lasers and matter, as a function of material, temperature and wavelength.

The work included both theoretical and experimental components, as well as frequent meetings with my seniors to discuss my work. This is, in my opinion, extremely important for an employer as it made me feel like a real part of the team.

Apart from my scientific knowledge and skills, my softer communication skills were also developed during the process. More specifically, I presented my work regularly to colleagues of varying technical ability. This enabled me to practice putting the same conclusions into different levels of technical detail, and communicating it in this way.

Now in my final year at university I am turning my attention to graduate careers. I know that I want to work in the technical consultancy industry, and have begun the interview process with a software-development firm, and will be sending out more cover letters soon. On a personal level, I feel that I would rather work at a smaller company than in one of the larger aerospace engineering firms, and putting in some research into the culture of different smaller companies is key.

For anyone looking at applying to the scheme in the future, I would say go for it! IOP has provided a fantastic opportunity to grab an internship, which are normally extremely competitive. The only advice I would give is to research the company you are applying to thoroughly, and if possible ask exactly what you will be doing before you apply. But provided you go in with an open mind, this scheme is great. It also provides you with a great example to talk about in any competency question on initiative you may have in later life!

Work placements benefit TWI because they introduce students who often have complementary skills to our team. The students also get the chance to see a real workplace and experience what it is like to be a full-time employee in a technology company.

Last year we hosted our first IOP work experience placement. We had selected a specific area for investigation and the student produced a literature study and some experimental results. The main advantage for TWI was having a bright enthusiastic well informed physicist with fresh eyes looking at a conceptual problem, which gave us new insight and led to some new experimental direction.

Roger Wise | TWI Technical Consultancy

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University: UCL

Course: MSci Physics

Placement: G24i

Nick L Theodorou, Age 21

I got excited by most of the placements on offer but G24i was at an interesting growth stage as their products are just starting to gain commercial traction. In one room we were shown photovoltaic modules made by hand, and a roll-to-roll production line in the other.

My advice is to write a one-page CV and a believable cover letter – one that a friend would read without laughing. In the interview focus on your practical lab skills and knowledge. I was extensively challenged on my first interview so I spent an hour writing down and reciting what I should have said.

Practically I sharpened my programming and presentation skills. That included some training resources for others to complete the same measurement methods that I helped to develop. I learned to strike a balance between being curious and concentrating on what is important, between figuring something out for yourself and asking for help. Actually I found that most of the required skills had been developed at higher education, we were just lacking the perspective gained from applying them in a practical employment, as opposed to academic, context.

The most enjoyable thing about this placement was being trusted to work independently on “my own” indoor testing rig, and working to genuine presentation deadlines – that meant I was more focused and productive.

Also the tour of the production line for the Logitech sun folio modules was a big highlight.

My least enjoyable experience was working the computer so hard it would crash, and having to listen to the loud fan of the Keithley source meter!

Going into the scheme my long-term career plans were for patent law and that has not changed. This placement gave me an interesting perspective on how intellectual property can be utilised commercially to protect investment– in this case it was in the scaling up, as the methods for constructing lab cells are in the public domain. The placement has confirmed that I would first like to spend a few years on the commercialisation side of the technology transfer spectrum, as there can be some interesting challenges and as I observed, some novel solutions. Patent law appeals to me because it would be the fastest way to appreciate the intricacies of a whole range of technologies, but as it is a conveyor belt of more exams alongside the work, I think it would be beneficial to first spend some time with companies that are actually putting the patents to good use.

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University: University of York

Course: BSc Physics

Placement: Liquids Research Ltd

Oliver Whear, Age 21

My employer designs and tailor makes ferrofluids for a range of international businesses. The sheer volume of applications in the products developed there is staggering, which was great for me as I wanted to see what the technology market is capable of.

I would advise people applying to do your research! I applied by writing a project profile; first by outlining the theory that has guided my project, then discussing the more short-term industrial applications of the project. My application was fully referenced and I styled it as if I was writing a lab report.

My laboratory conduct has been completely overhauled by this project; I’ve found myself knee deep in manuals, rewiring circuit boards and designing my own customer sample holders on a range of experiments.

I very quickly found myself having to know the kit inside out and really understand how measurements were being taken. Therefore my skill in critically assessing how I perform research in the lab has been totally upgraded. I also find my approach to studying physics a lot more critical as well.

I enjoyed the freedom of doing research, however, I was very apprehensive about going back to university for another year as I didn’t really want to leave the lifestyle.

I intend to try and get a PhD placement with the hope of one day finding a career in research management.

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University: St Anne’s College, University of Oxford

Course: BA Physics

Placement: Freescale Semiconductor

Wan Ying Ho (Viola), Age 21

While most physicists I know are more passionate about topics such as cosmology or quantum physics, I go crazy about the workings behind electronic circuits.

Freescale Semiconductor is an international company based in Austin, Texas – it is one of the biggest hotshots in the chip manufacture industry. I often passed by one of their research facilities back home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, so I have always thought it would be fantastic to work there. When I saw the placement offer on the IOP website, I sent my CV straight away, highlighting my capability to adapt quickly and my strength for practical work. When I found out that I was accepted I was ecstatic.

The placement started just two days after the end of my examinations; hence I arrived at their East Kilbride facility tired in brain, body and soul. However, as work started rolling and reading materials poured in, it was so interesting and fascinating I just could not stop myself from work! “You are a workaholic,” one might say to me, but

it was a big and necessary challenge for me to evolve from a basic electronics physicist to a 32-bit chip engineer in eight weeks. I learned not just electronics and related systems, but also the need for endurance, discipline and patience. When my placement project turned out successfully, it was the most satisfying element of the scheme!

I really loved the casual working environment they have at Freescale Semiconductor. It was very friendly, and I was free to wear jeans, to drink coffee with my work colleagues or even watch the Olympics games at times! I find the flexibility and trust given by the management amazing, it made me feel so at home I think it actually improved my efficiency.

The placement has brought me many good things, and happy memories. I am certain I will pursue a career in the electronics industry. Nevertheless, I am unsure where I will start my career, as both designing new computers and finding new applications of existing technology appeal strongly to me.

I wish new applicants the best of luck!

an institute of physics case study | february 2013 time ... · time well spent: getting the inside...

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