What attracted you to the scheme? 

I have always had a keen interest for innovation and exciting areas of research, in which I felt I would be able to experience during the course of the graduate scheme. The chance to research into battery technologies and improve our understanding of them in order to aid the electrification of many sectors is something that I wanted to be involved with.

A typical day as a Graduate Engineer

A typical working day when I am in the office involves reading and responding to emails related to the project you are currently working on to make arrangements for future work plans and give updates on progress. Normally at the start of a project there is a period of time where it is necessary to read the literature available relating to the project you are working on to get a better understanding of the topic area. Any useful and interesting information is normally noted down and used to form the basis of a literature review if required. Depending on the project, there may be periods in the day spent in the lab doing experimental work alongside supervisors or independently. Finally, meetings will take place with supervisors and other members of staff involved in the project to check on progress and discuss any interesting findings.

What projects have you worked on?

• Lithium ion battery computational modelling using Simscape/Simulink software within Matlab.
• Quantification of lithium content in individual cell components following varying cycling procedures in pouch cells using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.
• Updating the UniWARP database, which consists of commercially available lithium ion cells and allows for the user to input their energy and power requirements for a given application and outputs the most appropriate cell options.
• Construction of a nail penetration calorimeter for analysis of lithium ion cylindrical cells following the abuse test.
• Gas analysis and content quantification of gases formed in lithium ion pouch cells using gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Why should someone apply?

During the course of graduate scheme there is the ability to carry out experimental work on a range of novel research areas including batteries, motors, and propulsion systems. This work is not just limited to research, with there being the option to work on commercial projects and collaborate with other companies in the field. In each of the projects, you will be working with experts in their field and be able to learn extensive amounts from them during the time spent with them. The APM project management qualification is included in the scheme, which is a very useful skill to have in the future when looking to advance in your career. In addition to this, the postgraduate modules that you can be enrolled in improve your knowledge of the field and spark further interest, along with gaining additional qualifications.

What are the best parts of the scheme?

The rotation of projects throughout the scheme allowing for an insight into the different research areas at WMG and improvement of knowledge across the field. In addition to this, the rotation allows for you to explore what areas of research conducted at WMG you find most interesting and want to pursue in future work. On a day to day basis, there is a good variety of work carried out when working on a project, with its scope being adaptable with incorporating ideas from the graduate throughout.