Louisa
Organisation: Air Products PLC
Role: Development Engineer
I design and develop cryogenic freezers, support the commercial team to market and sell these freezers and travel to our customer's sites to help with maintaining their freezers.
Qualifications
Foundation degree in Science and Engineering, Masters in Engineering (MEng), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering.
Length of time in engineering
I have worked in the Engineering sector for more than 8 years. I started off with an industrial placement during my studies at the University of Bath, working with a company called LANXESS Elastomers in the Netherlands, as a research scientist. After graduating from the University of Bath, I joined a different company called Robert Bion Ltd. as a Cost and Process Engineer to estimate the cost of producing materials such as plastics, stainless steel and aluminium. I then decided to pursue further education and did a PhD, during which I was also teaching.After my PhD I joined Air Products as a Development Engineer which is a lot more exciting and challenging.
Academic knowledge and key skills important to your role
Advanced mathematics, numerical modelling, computational modelling, physics, thermodynamics, separation processes, Instrumentation and control.
Problem solving, communication, presentation, time management, accountability, project management, teamwork, leadership skills.
What inspired your to pursue a career in engineering
I am passionate to learn how things are manufactured. I am passionate about problem solving to improve a process or product.
Typical week
I design cryogenic food freezers that are able to operate at high efficiency, reduce waste, minimise power consumption and carbon footprint. Hence, a typical week involves working the lab and carrying out experiments on these food freezers to determine their current efficiency, research new ways to improve the system and repeat tests to ensure that these solutions work.
In my role, I work alongside Chemical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Business Analysts, Human Resources.
Biggest challenges in the sector
Sustainability and clean energy sources, Diversity and gender inequality.
Predictions for 50 years time
In 50 years, Engineering would have positively changed the world. Especially in the field of providing human comfortability and consumer goods but at the detriment of the environment.
My personal goals for 50 years’ time is to be retired from my own successful manufacturing company.