Lauren has been working as a Cryogenics Sample Environment Placement Student, and will be returning to the University of Bristol where she studies Physics.
Henry is also studying physics at Bristol, and has spent the last 12 months in Detector Development for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation.
Natasha has studied physics at the University of Sheffield. After spending the year developing neutron and muon online training, she’ll be returning to Sheffield for her masters in Biomedical Engineering.
Robin has spent his placement working on Fractionation-Small Angle Neutron Scattering, as part of his biomedical medical sciences course at Kingston University.
Lauren
What has been your favourite part of your placement?
The most rewarding thing has been the exposure to a wide range of science, beyond the scope of my role alone. I have had numerous opportunities to attend and even present work at conferences, science days, and lectures. Working every day can start to feel routine, but attending events that showcase the research that happens here reminds you just how remarkable the place really is.
What has your role involved?
I have assisted with the running and maintenance of the equipment that’s used when cryogenic temperatures are required on an experiment. My main projects have been to develop a method of cooling that enables ultra-low temperatures past the dilution range, and redesigning and rebuilding a radio frequency muon stick for use by muon instrument scientists.
What have you gained from your placement?
Mostly, it’s confidence in my ability to adapt to tasks that challenge me, as well as confidence in my decisions about my future career, having gained some experience in the sector. The largest contributor to this was the opportunity to present my project at the ISIS Science Coffee and Cake meeting.
What advice do you have for someone starting a placement at ISIS?
Take all the opportunities that are presented to you as early on as you can. A year seems a long time at the beginning but will pass quickly once you get stuck into your projects. Also, don’t be afraid of not knowing something. A placement is the perfect time to ask questions and see if you can help out on other projects that you might be interested in.
Henry
What has been your favourite part of your placement?
My favourite part of my placement has been the opportunity to work alongside excellent scientists and supervisors who are passionate about their field of research and always happy to answer my questions about their work.
What has your role involved?
I investigated the spatial resolution and counting rate capability of two types of detector, contributing to the design and construction of prototypes. I developed and implemented data analysis code and carried out experiments using ISIS beamlines and neutron and gamma sources. The results were presented to the Detector Systems Group and other stakeholders, and I documented the work through reports and scientific papers.
What have you gained from your placement?
I have gained confidence in working independently on research tasks and in sharing my ideas and results with peers and supervisors. I have also gained significant insight into research and development methods and am continuing to refine my skills in these areas.
What advice do you have for someone starting a placement at ISIS?
Have as much (controlled) enthusiasm as possible. You quickly learn that in experimental physics (almost) nothing ever works in the way you expect it to, so enthusiasm helps a lot. Of course, question everything, and try to break things up into small, manageable chunks, otherwise there is a lot of fascinating information – and it can feel daunting.
Natasha
What has been your favourite part of your placement?
The opportunity to work closely with instrument scientists in the Molecular Spectroscopy Group has given me a real insight into what a career in physics can be. Engaging with scientists at three major conferences has sparked insightful discussions about my training materials and their own research. Through these collaborations, I’ve been offered the chance to return to ISIS for my Master’s project.
What has your role involved?
I have developed online courses with the Molecular Spectroscopy Group, to prepare users for conducting experiments on ISIS instruments. This includes two key courses, which cover the theory behind each technique, experimental setup, with step-by-step video guides, and the data analysis process with clear examples.
What have you gained from your placement?
I’ve gained valuable experience in public speaking and science communication through presenting my work to large and diverse audiences, mostly at national and international conferences. I presented posters and discussed my work in depth, developing my communication of complex ideas and showing me the breadth of research happening at ISIS. I’ve been able to reflect on the type of research that excites me most and explore what might be the right future path for me.
What advice do you have for someone starting a placement at ISIS?
Take full advantage of the opportunities available and make the most of your time here. There is always a wide range of projects and activities happening across the facility, and getting involved in as many as you can is a great way to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections.
Robin
What has been your favourite part of your placement?
I got to travel to Germany to learn about the systems I have used throughout my placement. I visited the Wyatt headquarters in Dernbach where I learned about maintenance, setting up the system and analysis.
What has your role involved?
I have been using the Wyatt Asymmetrical Flow Field Flow Fractionation (AF4) system to provide data on biological soft matter, such as virus-like particles, to complement some of the Small Angle Scattering (SAS) instruments at ISIS. This is very useful in validating SAS data. I have been working primarily on lipid nanoparticles (similar to the covid vaccine) with users who come to test their samples on the beamline here.
What have you gained from your placement?
I’ve gained insight into what day-to-day life is like working in labs and invaluable experience working with niche structural biology instruments that require specialist training. The systems and instruments I have been using have opened up quite a few pathways for me!
What advice do you have for someone starting a placement at ISIS?
Every experience is a learning experience. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on! Make as many (reasonable) mistakes as you can this placement year so that you don't make them when you become an actual professional.
