Why did you choose to come to Exeter?
The contents of the University of Exeter's doctoral training aligns very much with what I believe is the ideal environment for me to thrive and learn in. Working alongside others with similar interests and aims is something I find inspiring. The people I was introduced to during my interview for the PhD seemed to be thriving and had only positive things to say about their experience in the cohort. The facilities for conducting research seemed outstanding and it was clear that a lot of support is available both academically and socially. These reasons made University of Exeter an obvious choice for pursuing my PhD.
Why have you chosen your subject of study?
During my masters I came across courses in semiconductor physics which greatly fascinated me. This fascination made me pursue more in-depth subjects in applications of semiconductor physics associated with light-matter interaction. The possibility of following this interest further, conducting research on a novel material, is both challenging and requires a wide variety of both practical and theoretical skills. The prospect of developing such a wide skill set whilst broadening my knowledge in light matter interactions seems both an interesting and rewarding challenge.
What career aspirations do you have?
I cherish the possibility to learn and be creative very highly. It is therefore my aim to continue learning in spaces where I can be creative. I also love teaching as feel teaching is a great way to challenge my own knowledge and perception. Conducting research in an academic institution seems a great way to be able to do all of this in parallel so I am hoping to pursue a research and teaching oriented career within academia.
What will you be doing outside of study?
I am passionate about music and love making my own. Previously I have played in bands and the joy of creating music in a group, refining sound and compositions for recordings or concerts is something I would like to pursue further whilst at Exeter. I also have my own electronics project developing a cloud connected sensor system for monitoring plant growth conditions. I have recently involved a few friends of mine and I hope together we can develop a robust system which can be deployed anywhere. I also enjoy hiking and so hope to make use of the access to the moors with a few of my cohort who also enjoy being outdoors.
What does receiving this scholarship mean to you and how will it impact on your time at Exeter and beyond?
The scholarship means I can devote more time to the research. I have had to constrict my budget significantly to be able to carry out this PhD. This has meant that I would have had to take up work outside of the research to be able to afford to do the PhD long term. Although I do plan on teaching, the scholarship allows me to do this more for my joy of teaching rather than it being a necessity to make ends meet. The knowledge of someone outside my immediate academic circle taking interest in in my work, is also a powerful motivation for keeping track of progress whilst keeping my research transparent and easy to understand. I further believe that this scholarship aiding my research directly will benefit future research within the field and help me develop my skills for presenting science to the wider audience.
