Josh Swindell

What is your current job / programme of study?

I’m a final-year PhD Researcher in material science.

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

Chemistry, Maths and History

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

Throughout my time in school—right through to my PhD—I’ve been fascinated by nanotechnology and figuring out how the world works at a tiny scale. Surprisingly, I never set out to get a PhD in materials science! I just kept following whatever sparked my curiosity, and it wasn’t until later in my master’s program that I focused on materials science for my PhD. My main goal has always been to make a small but meaningful difference in the world, and I’ve found that materials science the best vehicle tackles big challenges like climate change.

What did you enjoy most about your MSE course?

I undertook a MChem (undergrad + master’s all-in-one Chemistry degree) and enjoyed the practical hands-on experience. Mixing and baking new compounds laid the foundations of my eventual PhD project!

What is your research about?

My research focuses on uncovering new, more affordable, and exciting materials for catalysis and magnetic applications. I work with high entropy materials (HEMs), which combine several metals (>5) at once to create tough, well-organized structures with unusual properties. These next-generation materials could play a big role in tackling big challenges in fields like green energy and quantum computing.

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

Recently I was able to visit Boston, USA for a materials science conference (MRS Fall) and present my research to other scientists. Being able to network with others in my field, travel and talk in front of a room was exciting to say the least! I also got to go see the Synchrotron down in Oxford, where they accelerate electrons to the speed of light in an area bigger than 8 football pitches!

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I’d like to stay in researching new and exciting materials, working on the cutting edge.

What is your favourite material (and why)?

Ferrofluids like magnetite (Fe₃O₄) as they exhibit weird behaviour acting like a liquid, solid and something in between depending on the magnetic field.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

Don’t stress about what you’d like to get into as a career, keep learning and involved with the stuff that most interests you. The rest will hopefully follow.

External links 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-s-0a756255/