Final Reflective Entry

Use this opportunity to reflect on your URSS project and take stock of the skills you have developed and experiences you have undertaken.

What were your key objectives for completing your project and have they been met?

To describe the spin transport properties of a conduction electron as it travels though a skyrmion magnetic texture in a chiral ferromagnet.

What skills have you gained by completing your project that you will utilise in your studies or other aspects of your working life?

How to approach and understand scientific journals, which will be an invaluable skill once I start my 4th year dissertation/project (and it is likely that I will go into postgraduate study after my undergraduate degree).

What will you do differently as a result of your URSS Experience?

I cannot think of anything specific that I would change.

How has participating in the URSS Experience changed or confirmed your future study or employment plans?

I would say that it has; I have enjoyed this project in theoretical physics (more than I enjoyed my URSS project last year), and would find studying mathematical physics an interesting subject to go into.

Have there been any unexpected outcomes of taking part in the URSS Experience?

In a sense, yes; my Development Goal 2 did not come (completely) to fruition but that did not matter anyway in the end.

What would you consider as your highlights of the URSS Experience?

That I managed to get some good results in a theoretical project is a highlight in its own right!

Did you encounter any challenges, issues or difficulties whilst partaking in the URSS Experience? How did you overcome them?

There were several small issues which just came about from trying to understand what was going in the scientific articles; the information in them is not usually self-contained and this always makes them a struggle (especially for an undergraduate with no specialisations) to digest. I overcame these problems with patience and by cross-referencing between many different articles/books.

How do you feel about the URSS experience now that you have completed your project?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. My project was interesting and also had a reasonable end goal which was achieved, and it introduced me to new areas of theoretical physics and mathematics that I had not encountered before.

What are your 3 top tips for URSS students about to start work on their research projects?

Communicate with your supervisor

Do not think that it is the end of the world if something goes wrong

Be realistic with your aims