Eshaal Alavi
What is your current programme of study? 
MSci Natural Sciences (Major in Physical Chemistry and Minor in Physics).
What A-Levels (or equivalent) did you do?
Physics, Chemistry and Maths
Why did you chose a career in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)?
I chose to specialise in Materials Science because of its interdisciplinary nature, connecting Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering, while remaining strongly focused on applying its research to the real world.
What did you enjoy most about your MSE course?
I love understanding materials at a fundamental level and how that leads to the properties we see on a larger scale. I think it’s amazing that we can use this understanding to tweak the properties of materials and get exactly what we want (like with semiconductors).
What is your research about?
I am currently doing my literature review on how a nature-inspired framework can be applied to self-healing concrete. I want to explore how we can learn from biological systems to make self-healing in concrete more sustainable and effective.
What is the coolest thing you have done in your career so far?
Made a high temperature, superconducting magnet in the lab and saw it float!
What do you see yourself doing in the future?
I’m not sure yet, but I see myself working in sustainability — either through materials research or working in some of the biggest carbon-emitting sectors, like energy, food, and biodiversity loss.
What is your favourite material (and why)?
Carbon (cheating a bit here, since it isn’t really one material) because of how versatile it is, with different allotropes used in everything from battery materials like hard carbon, to electronics and drug delivery. It’s also incredibly abundant and forms the basis of all living things – including us – which makes it both useful and fundamental to our life.
What advice would you give your 16 year old self?
You don’t need to feel like you have your whole future figured out – you have loads of time!
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