Emma Snelson

What is your current programme of study?

MEng Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

What A-Levels did you do?

Chemistry, Physics, Maths, and Further Maths

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

At school I loved the sciences and Maths and knew that I wanted to find a career that could incorporate Physics, Chemistry, and Maths and maybe a bit of Biology too, but also be engineering aligned. Through my research I then discovered Materials Science, and it was ideal. I can learn about how and why things occur in depth but also apply those to many different sectors.

What do you enjoy most about your MSE course?

I really enjoy finally learning why certain materials behave as they do. For example, electrical and magnetic materials. In school we never truly learnt why these characteristics appear and so I’ve loved learning more about them and opening me up to even more questions about why they behave as they do. I look forward to learning more about why all these behaviours I’ve observed day to day happen!

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

We made by hand a sand casting then poured in molten aluminium to create any design that we wanted.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I’m still not a hundred percent certain and am open to many different ideas. The path I like the most at the moment is going into biomaterials research potentially for surgical implants.

What is your favourite material (and why)?

I believe that silk is a particularly fascinating material! Silkworms and spiders have evolved over centuries to produce a material which we struggle to replicate its impressive mechanical properties. Silk can be used for a range of uses from the typical textiles to a variety of uses within the body, for example it could be used for nerve regeneration, and many other novel uses. Silk is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar and as such is my favourite material.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

Stay curious. Never stop asking questions. Continue trying your hardest and taking every opportunity presented to you.

Links
LinkedIn