Felix Watson

What is your current job / programme of study?

Undergraduate at Imperial College taking Materials Science and Engineering

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

Further maths, Maths, Chemistry and Physics

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

I am passionate about climate action and sustainability and for me, Materials Science and Engineering is allowing me to combine my academic interests with this. I love the combination of theory and hand on experiences with the degree that has applications in so many interesting sectors.

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?)

Currently I am only 1^st year so I can only really comment on that. So far, I have really enjoyed the Engineering Practise 1 module because we got a lot of freedom with using different machinery around the department. I also got the chance to lead a group of 12 students which built my teamwork and managerial skills immensely. Going into my second year I am eager to start our Performance of Functional Materials module as this cover’s material on battery technology.

What is your research about?

Currently, I am doing a UROP at Imperial where I am researching carbon nanotube based thermoelectric materials. This is a 10-week placement over my summer break.

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

I got the opportunity to pitch at the royal institution last year which was pretty cool.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

At the moment, being very early in my career, I am still deciding between something industrial based, or research based. My ideal job would be somewhere that I feel like I am having a genuine impact on the climate crisis.

What is your favourite material (and why)?

I have been finding carbon nanotubes fascinating over my research project. So I would have to go with them.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

I would tell myself to be more open to saying yes to opportunities that came my way.

Links to any external profile pages / website you have

https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-r-watson/