Manzo Brown

What is your current job?

Casting Technician.

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

I followed a slightly non-traditional route into Materials Science and Engineering. My educational and career path has included technical, scientific and professional development qualifications, including becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, IOSH Managing Safely and ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management. Throughout my career I have continued to develop my skills through workplace learning, training and hands-on experience in research, manufacturing and lab environments. 

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

My interest in materials and manufacturing started while working at the High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) in Coventry. I was fascinated by how materials can be engineered to perform in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. I enjoyed the combination of science, engineering and practical problem-solving, and seeing how research can translate into real-world applications.  

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 did not follow a traditional Materials Science and Engineering degree route. Instead, I entered the field through technical and laboratory roles, learning alongside researchers, engineers and academics. What attracted me to MSE was the incredible variety of the subject. One day you might be studying the microstructure of a material under a microscope and the next you could be manufacturing a completely new alloy or testing materials at high temperatures. 

What is your research about?  

As a Casting Technician in the School of Metallurgy and Materials at the University of Birmingham, I support research within the Alloys for Extreme Environments Group (AEE) and the Magnetic Materials Group (MMG). 

My role focuses on supporting the manufacture and processing of advanced materials through equipment such as arc melting systems, strip casting equipment, vacuum furnaces, rolling mills and mechanical testing facilities. The research I support includes developing novel alloys and materials for demanding applications such as fusion energy, concentrated solar power and sustainable recycling technologies. 

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

One of the coolest aspects of my career has been helping researchers create completely new materials and alloys that may never have existed before. There is something incredibly satisfying about taking raw elements, melting them together and producing materials that could contribute to future technologies. 

Working with advanced casting equipment and high-temperature processing systems has allowed me to support projects related to fusion energy and other extreme-environment applications.  

What do you see yourself doing in the future? 

I would like to continue developing my technical and leadership skills within materials science and engineering. My goal is to further expand my expertise in advanced manufacturing and casting processes while supporting and mentoring future generations of researchers, technicians and engineers. 

What is your favourite material (and why)?  

My favourite materials are nickel-based superalloys. They are remarkable materials capable of maintaining their strength and performance at extremely high temperatures and in harsh environments where many other materials would fail. 

Having worked with high-temperature materials and casting processes throughout my career, I find it fascinating how careful control of composition and microstructure can produce materials that power jet engines, gas turbines and future energy technologies. 

What advice would you give your 16 year old self? 

Don’t worry if you don’t have a perfectly planned career path. Some of the best opportunities come from being open to new experiences and being willing to learn. 

Be curious, ask questions and never stop developing your skills. The route I took into Materials Science and Engineering wasn’t a traditional one, but every role I have undertaken taught me something valuable that helped me get where I am today. 

Links 

LinkedIn