Alex Dickinson-Lomas

What is your current job / programme of study? 

Materials engineer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, working on developing structural steels for fusion reactors.

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

 Physics, Chemistry, Maths,  Further Maths and AS Politics.

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

I didn’t want to choose between engineering, chemistry and physics, and I loved the excitement of nuclear energy and the scientific challenges this faces.

What did you enjoy most about your MSE course? 

I studied Nuclear Science and Materials, which was a joint honours course covering both physics and materials science with a nuclear spin! I loved that everything we learned could be directly linked to as real-life high impact application. I moved into another multidisciplinary area for my masters; Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management, before returning to nuclear materials science for my PhD.

What is your research about?  

My current research focuses on characterising the microstructures of new types of steel designed to be used in high temperature environments with extreme radiation environments such as fusion energy machines which could be a key source of electricity in the future. These materials will also be useful in other high temperature nuclear applications such as advanced fission reactors.

I use electron microscopes to look at the tiny structures of these metals to understand how radiation affects their behaviour.

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

Completing my PhD! As a school student I had no idea that doing independent research and obtaining a PhD was an option, so it has been an amazing challenge and privilege to pursue my education this far. I loved the freedom to learn and test my ideas, while gaining access to top facilities across the world for my experiments and working with some amazing scientists.

What do you see yourself doing in the future? 

I’m already thrilled to be working as a materials scientist!

In the future I would like to be continuing to work in research, and work to support materials scientists of the future through teaching and supporting their development.

What is your favourite material (and why)?  

Silk. I love to sew and I think silk is one of the most incredible natural fibres. It can be collected from silk worms and be woven into a wide range of fabrics and used for all sorts of things, ranging from light floaty dress fabric all the way to fibres used in space that get stronger when cooled to cryogenic temperatures! I think the ingenuity that humans have demonstrated in using natural materials to produce such complex products is magical.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self? 

Don’t worry about choosing your career path right now, there will be things you can do for a job that you haven’t even heard of yet and there is always time to change your mind. Just stick to trying your best and doing things you enjoy!

External links 

Linked In: LinkedIn  

Instagram: @adl_dangerlover