Alice Choubry

What is your current job / programme of study?

MEng Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London

What A-Levels (or equivalent) did you do?
French Baccalaureate with the International Option (mathematics, physics-chemistry; further
maths equivalent elective)

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

I decided to study materials because I enjoyed physics and chemistry equally and because
understanding why materials behave the way they do and being able to change that feels
magical. In addition, I like how studying materials allows you to go into practically every field.

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 enjoy how diverse the content is. We learn about everything, from ceramics to polymers to
metals! I also like seeing the real life applications of what we learn. So far in my degree, I’ve
had to evaluate materials for a hydrogen storage tank and build a ceramics 3D printer. These
projects have helped solidify theoretical learnings by applying them to concrete (pun
intended) situations and it is always so satisfying to see it all come together at the end of the
projects.

What is your research about?

N/A

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

The coolest thing I have done as a student is synthesizing gold nanoparticles in a lab and
building a ceramics 3D printer!

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I am not sure which industry I want to specialize in, but I’d like to work with metals or ceramics.
If the opportunity arises, I’d like to become a Chartered Engineer. I also really enjoy doing
outreach work to inspire others to study engineering and more specifically materials, and that
is something I want to continue to do even once I start working.

What is your favourite material (and why)?

My favourite materials are aerogels. I find it incredible how they are less dense than air (they
are the lightest solids known to mankind) and how their properties diverge from their bulk
material of origin. They are excellent insulators, are mostly air and can carry over 2000 times
their weight. My dream is to one day make one!

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

I would tell her to believe in herself and in her dreams because she can achieve them.