Adam Jackson

What is your current programme of study?

PhD student in the School of Metallurgy and Materials

What A-Levels (or equivalent) did you do?

Maths

Further Maths

Physics

Business Studies (AS)

EPQ

Why did you choose a career in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)?

I came to UoB on an open day to look at Physics and during the talk, they mentioned the nuclear Engineering course which I thought sounded really interesting. So I went to look at that course and found the course offered an interesting combination of Physics, Mathematics and Materials Science (which I had never thought about). After talking to current students and alumni I decided the MEng Nuclear Engineering was the degree for me

What did you enjoy most about your MSE course? (If you didn’t do a MSE course which course did you do and what led to you MSE?)

I did Nuclear Engineering but my favourite part of the course was the Individual Project in my fourth year, which the MSE also did. The project gave a sense of freedom that no other part of the course could offer. From there I new I wanted to continue research, so I decided to do a PhD and fortunately I was able to get one with applications in the nuclear sector.

What is your research about?

My research is on the diffusion bonding through Hot Isostatic Pressing of Tungsten to Vanadium alloys for fusion and space applications

What is the coolest thing you have done in your career so far?

The coolest thing I have done so far is do a speech to 200 people at the Materials Ball 2022, it was very nerve-wracking but I am very glad I did it

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

Working on fusion energy either here at Birmingham, Oxford, or as part of the MTC

What is your favourite material (and why)?

Tungsten, because for the same reasons it is very useful in fusion energy, it is incredibly difficult to work with

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Good things come to those who work for it

Links

LinkedIn