What did you study at A-level (or equivalent) and why did you select those subjects?
Maths, Physics and English Literature. Maths and Physics gave me good technical and analytical skills while the English gave me creative thinking and good communication skills. I think being both analytical and creative minded is a huge asset in engineering and helps me to problem solve and connect with others in my work.
What inspired you to choose and study your degree subject?
I love problem solving and I see engineering as a tool to enable me to solve problems in areas I am passionate about. I wanted to develop my analytical skills and get involved in hands on projects with a tangible impact.
What key skills did you learn at university?
I learnt how to manage my time and stay dedicated with lots of coursework, exams, socials and hobbies to juggle! I learnt resilience and ways to overcome challenges as I have faced many tricky modules and setbacks and have always come out the other side with a good result and a stronger skillset.
What jobs have you had during your career?
I worked at GSK for my placement year in facilities management engineering. It was super interesting navigating a professional working environment within a big company for the first time and I learnt lots through training and projects I undertook. I undertook a wide variety of projects on areas including process safety, bio machinery safety, pressure systems, implementing engineering standards, asset tracking and optimizing systems/processes. It gave me a good understanding of how engineering supports daily operations and long-term strategy, and really helped build my confidence working in cross-functional teams.
Do you have an area of expertise / research?
As I am still early in my career, I am still learning my niche and open to learning new things, but I have a particular interest in biomedical engineering and smart, sustainable cities.
What has been your most exciting project?
The most exciting project is my thesis I am completing at the moment- studying how nanoparticles can be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. It is an area I am super passionate about and I am learning new skills in research and how to conduct a systematic literature review which although is at times challenging, is also deeply rewarding.
What are your top tips for working in your industry/sector?
Stay up to date with industry trends and continue learning about your company or the broader project you're working on. Understanding how everything fits together and the bigger picture you're contributing to will give you more perspective and drive. Keep developing your skill set and seek out relevant training to ensure your work stays fresh and evolves as the industry does.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
To put yourself out there and try as many good opportunities as possible that come your way – or make your own opportunities.
Any advice you’d like to share?
Be curious, enthusiastic and proactive. If you have the right attitude, you can learn lots and make great things happen.
Why are you passionate about your subject / career / STEM?
I’m passionate about engineering because it’s all about solving real problems and making things better for people. I love that it combines creativity with logic — you're constantly learning, thinking critically, and applying ideas in a practical way. What motivates me most is knowing the work can have a real-world impact, whether that’s through improving healthcare, designing more sustainable cities, or developing smarter systems. There’s always something new to explore, and that’s what keeps it exciting.
Keep up to date with Sophie via LinkedIn