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How I got here

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A woman engineer seen through a window in a piece of experimental apparatus, setting up an experiment, holding a thin metal rail
  • Aerospace
  • How I got here
  • Issue 100

Q&A: Abigail Berhane, aerospace engineering researcher

Sci-fi films first got Abigail Berhane interested in STEM. Then, a visit to CERN cemented a future in engineering. About to hand in her PhD, she plans to continue her work in aerospace engineering to help increase diversity in the field and work towards a greener future.

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A woman floating in a space suit with her hair spread around her in the hold of a plane during parabolic (zero gravity) flight
  • Aerospace
  • Chemical
  • How I got here

Q&A: Meganne Christian, reserve astronaut

Initially, Meganne Christian's background in engineering prepared her for research expeditions to Antarctica and experiments with materials in zero gravity. After earning a position as a reserve astronaut with the European Space Agency in 2022, she is now a part of the exploration team at the UK Space Agency.

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  • Food & agriculture
  • Health & medical
  • How I got here

Meet the bioengineers

Today, there is an increasing variety of roles available to bioengineers. Bioengineering graduate and writer Fern Ellis spoke to a startup founder, a pharmaceutical services manager, and two academics, all working in different areas of bioengineering.

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A woman with curly hear, wearing a crown and holding a trophy topped with a large sphere, that is positioned in front of the sun so there is the halo of light around it.
  • Mechanical
  • How I got here
  • Issue 99

Q&A: Cara Fox, QMUL Formula Student Principal

As team principal of Queen Mary University of London’s Formula Student team, Cara Fox has laid the foundations for an exciting career in motorsport.

Dr Harrison Steele holding the Royal Academy of Engineering's Sir George MacFarlane Medal.
  • Health & medical
  • Software & computer science
  • How I got here

Q&A: Dr Harrison Steel, researcher in synthetic biology

Dr Harrison Steele credits his beginnings in engineering to smashing up an old printer, aged four, to investigate the electronic wonders within. Today, he’s an associate professor at the University of Oxford developing biotechnology-based solutions to challenges in biomedicine and the climate crisis.

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  • Electricals & electronics
  • Technology & robotics
  • How I got here
  • Issue 98

Q&A: Eneni Bambara-Abban, roboticist and technologist

Eneni Bambara-Abban got her start in engineering taking apart the toaster as a child. Today, her many roles include robotics engineer, technologist, and founder of The Techover Foundation, an NGO that supports underserved communities into technology.

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Harvey Hudson wearing a hard hat and yellow jacket from Vital Energi, standing on the roof of the Christie Hospital which is covered in solar panels.
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here

Q&A: Harvey Hudson, building services engineering apprentice

Family inspiration and diagnosing problems on his mountain bike set Harvey Hudson on the engineering apprenticeship route. He was since named the National Apprentice of the Year and featured in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s ‘This is Engineering’ campaign.

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  • Software & computer science
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here

Q&A: Meng Wu, PhD student in data science

Having studied computer science and AI at university, Meng Wu has applied his skills in a wide range of fields. He’s now a PhD student based in Orkney, applying software and data engineering to help local fishing communities become more sustainable.

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An illustration of two women scientists in a lab with an array of brightly coloured test tubes.
  • Aerospace
  • How I got here
  • Issue 97

Q&A: Khadijah Ismail, aerospace engineer

After completing a degree apprenticeship with BAE Systems, Khadijah Ismail has turned her hand to writing STEM children’s books to inspire the next generation of engineers.

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A female biomedical engineer standing next to an elephant with a prosthetic foot in an elephant sanctuary, surrounded by trees.
  • Health & medical
  • How I got here

5 things I learned on my biomedical engineering journey

Kirsty Carlyle wanted a career that would make a difference. She married her love of physics and design with her interest in medicine to become a biomedical engineer, and is now doing a PhD in partial hand prosthetics. Kirsty shared five things she’s learned along the way.

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An engineering student giving a talk titled "Diversity & Inclusion in the Built Environment"
  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here

Q&A: John Mosuela, civil engineering student

John Mosuela followed his passion for trains to the world of civil engineering. Now, he’s passionate about how engineers can advocate for accessibility and inclusion.

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A man standing in front of a display that says "Welcome to COP26" on several shelves full of different plants.
  • Energy
  • Environment & sustainability
  • Electricals & electronics
  • How I got here

Q&A: Mark Goudie, electrical engineer

Mark Goudie is one of the youngest engineering Fellows in the UK, an inventor, and an engineer in the energy sector.

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  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here

Q&A: Fiona Walport, structural engineering researcher

UK Young Academy member and recent RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineer of the Year winner Fiona Walport is inspired by how structural engineers can shape a better future.

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  • Design & manufacturing
  • How I got here
  • Issue 95

Q&A: Laura Tuck, design engineer

After a stint designing products now sold worldwide for Dyson, design engineer Laura Tuck has been working to empower women worldwide at several startups.

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  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here
  • Issue 96

Q&A: Nyasha Mutembwa, civil engineering student

A summer school in Shanghai inspired civil engineering student Nyasha Mutembwa to reach for every opportunity on offer.

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  • Transport
  • Energy
  • Chemical
  • How I got here

Q&A: Titi Oliyide, safety engineer

From the Elizabeth line to green hydrogen, safety engineer Titi Oliyide wants to see her engineering achievements take shape in a way that helps people.

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A woman standing in front of a sign for COP27 that says "Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 2022"
  • Chemical
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here
  • Issue 94

Q&A: Isabelle Pickett, chemical engineering student

A chemical engineering degree set Isabelle Pickett on a path to advocating for girls in STEM and net zero careers – and setting up her own tutoring business along the way.

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  • Aerospace
  • How I got here

How I got here – Darrel Njogu

A passion for aviation led engineering student Darrel Njogu to pursue a career as an aerospace engineer, combining it with his love for science. Having spent a year on placement with BAE Systems, he plans to return to the company when he graduates later this year.

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Two people stand on the side of a hill writing on clipboards with other hills in the background
  • Energy
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here
  • Issue 93

Q&A: Katie Ireland

On coming back from a career break, Katie Ireland switched fields from oil and gas to renewables, and was awarded ‘Returner of the Year’ at the 2022 Engineering Talent Awards.

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  • Arts & culture
  • How I got here

Q&A: The Bakineers

For National Engineering Day 2022, Ingenia spoke to three of the eight (!) engineers who’ve starred in the Great British Bake Off: Andrew Smyth, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, and Dr Rahul Mandal. The engineers, having recently de-aproned after making their showstopper ‘Time to celebrate engineering’ cake for National Engineering Day, shared some wisdom about engineering, baking and the surprisingly numerous ways that the two overlap…

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  • Design & manufacturing
  • How I got here

Q&A: Nabilah Thagia

Nabilah Thagia is an engineering undergraduate at Dyson and was recently awarded Engineering Apprentice of the Year at the Engineering Talent Awards.

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  • Transport
  • Mechanical
  • How I got here

Electrifying trains and STEMAZING outreach

Alex Keeler, a railway overhead line design engineer at Amey, won this year’s Baroness Platt of Writtle Award for the most outstanding incorporated engineering application nationwide.

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A soundsystem made from wood, painted red and green with "Hertz So Good" on the side.
  • Arts & culture
  • Sports & leisure
  • How I got here
  • Issue 92

Q&A: Stan Jones

An opportune moment led to a career designing adventure playgrounds (and a soundsystem for Shambala Festival on the side) for Stan Jones.

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  • Sports & leisure
  • Mechanical
  • How I got here

Q&A: George Imafidon, electric racing performance engineer

George Imafidon wears many hats. He’s a performance engineer at X44, Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE HonFREng’s electric motorsports team; CEO and Co-Founder of Motivez, improving access to STEM careers; and is on the Hamilton Commission board, investigating the representation of Black people in motorsport.

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A photograph of Jean sitting at a desk adjusting the dial on an oscillator with one hand and holding a cable in the other.
  • Electricals & electronics
  • How I got here
  • Issue 91

Q&A: Jean Morris

A passion for physics led Jean Morris onto a graduate scheme at Airbus and a placement in Munich after University before her role as a research engineer at the National Physical Laboratory, where she won an award for pandemic service.

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An engineer standing in a manufacturing facility.
  • Design & manufacturing
  • Aerospace
  • How I got here
  • Issue 90

Q&A: Kate Todd-Davis

Apprentice Kate Todd-Davis followed her passion for aerospace and automotive engineering to Rolls-Royce – and gained a degree in manufacturing technology from the University of Sheffield along the way.

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A photograph of Hussan sitting on a grey chair in the left corner and Hussain sitting on a sofa in the right corner of the photograph. Both are looking at the camera with relaxed postures.
  • How I got here
  • Issue 89

Q&A: Hassan and Hussain Moftah

Hassan and Hussain both had similar interests growing up, which found them following the same career path. They share knowledge, have access to each other’s networks, learn from each other’s mistakes, and are hoping to create a tech start-up together in the future.

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  • Chemical
  • How I got here
  • Issue 88

Q&A: Michelle Watiki

From placements at Xerox and Rolls Royce, to becoming a board member for the Association for Black and Ethnic Minority Engineers, chemical engineering graduate Michelle Watiki hopes to apply her knowledge to sustainability and net zero, as well as helping future engineering students.

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Josh Oldham smiling and standing behind an open door of a red Aston Martin.
  • Mechanical
  • How I got here
  • Issue 87

Q&A: Josh Oldham

Josh Oldham, an Aston Martin apprentice and student at the University of Warwick, shares his experience in making a video shared by both Aston Martin’s COO and a Minister from the Department of Education and offers insights as to what it’s like to work on the Vantage F1 edition.

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A portrait of Felicity Milton performing a rock on hand gesture.
  • Design & manufacturing
  • Mechanical
  • How I got here
  • Issue 86

Q&A: Felicity Milton

Felicity Milton is a mechanical engineer and Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation at adidas, where she is responsible for digital strategy and business model innovation.

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A digital rendering of the design for intensive care unit wards, with five beds spaced apart from each other.
  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here
  • Issue 85

Q&A: Eoin O'Loughlin & Philip Turner

Eoin O’Loughlin is a fire safety engineer at Arup. Philip Turner is a mechanical building services engineer at Arup. Together they have been working on CareBox, a series of design guidelines for scalable, modular and rapid solutions to provide additional intensive care and ward beds for COVID-19 patients.

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Profile shots of Amy Wright (left), Dr Boyang Shen (middle), Dr Andrea De Luca (top right) and Dr Richard Colchester (bottom right).
  • How I got here
  • Issue 84

Q&A: 2020 Young Engineers of the Year awards

Ingenia spoke to four engineers who have won the 2020 RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineers of the Year awards about their engineering journeys. The award recognises the potential of young UK engineers who have demonstrated excellence in the early stage of their career.

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Rosie Goldrick in Rwanda, standing in a construction area with a colleague.
  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here
  • Issue 83

Q&A: Rosie Goldrick

Rosie Goldrick is Engineering Director at MASS Design Group, a non-profit design collective that builds and designs innovative projects throughout East Africa, with a focus on education, health and justice.

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  • Food & agriculture
  • How I got here
  • Issue 82

Q&A: Ben Crowther

Ben Crowther is the Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of LettUs Grow, a Bristol company that designs modular aeroponic farming systems.

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Mamta Singhal in front of a logo for the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
  • Food & agriculture
  • Design & manufacturing
  • How I got here
  • Issue 81

Q&A: Mamta Singhal

Mamta Singhal is a Commercialisation Manager for Coca-Cola European Partners, GB Supply Chain. Before this, she worked for two large toy manufacturers as a design engineer with Hasbro and as a project quality engineer for Mattel.

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Natalie Cheung is pictured with Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE DL FRS FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, being awarded the Medal for Social Responsibility and Alumni Volunteer of the Year 2019.
  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here
  • Issue 80

Q&A: Natalie Cheung

Natalie Cheung is a STEM Ambassador Coordinator in London. She recruits and trains volunteer engineers to engage with young people through hands-on activities, careers events and mentoring. Natalie was a STEM Ambassador herself while working as a railway civil engineer.

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  • Electricals & electronics
  • Materials
  • How I got here
  • Issue 79

Q&A: Zoe Dobell

Zoe Dobell is a systems engineer at Transport for London (TfL). She’s currently working on the Central Line Improvement Programme (CLIP), where she is integrating new systems that are being retrofitted onto the trains.

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Dr Anh Tran crouching down with a mask and gloves on, with chemical bottles in front of her on the ground, being watched by local people in Cambodia.
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here
  • Issue 78

Q&A: Dr Anh Tran

Dr Anh Tran is a humanitarian engineering researcher and lecturer at Coventry University. Her research focuses on energy, water, food, and computer technologies with resource-limited communities.

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  • Energy
  • Materials
  • How I got here
  • Issue 77

Q&A: Rahul Mandal

Dr Rahul Mandal is a Research Associate in the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, and winner of The Great British Bake Off 2018.

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A headshot of Sinead O’Sullivan smiling at the camera, with her arms crossed and a yellow background.
  • Aerospace
  • Technology & robotics
  • How I got here
  • Issue 76

Q&A: Sinead O'Sullivan

Sinead O’Sullivan is an academic researcher at Harvard Business School and the US Center for Climate and Security, working on aerospace engineering, technology, business and policy. She is also commercialising technology to monitor interference in democratic elections.

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A headshot of Olivia Sweeney at the University of Edinburgh during graduation.
  • Chemical
  • How I got here
  • Issue 75

Q&A: Olivia Sweeney

Olivia Sweeney sources aroma chemicals to create fragrances at cosmetics company Lush. She is working on finding new, more sustainable sources of fragrance ingredients, with an interest in the research and development of chemical production from waste streams.

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A headshot of Elliott Webb.
  • Civil & structural
  • How I got here
  • Issue 74

Q&A: Elliott Webb

Elliott Webb is an apprentice engineer in Arup’s Highways team. He is currently designing and modelling routes for the High Speed 2 (HS2) project.

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  • Materials
  • How I got here
  • Issue 73

Q&A: Anna Ploszajski

Anna Ploszajski is a materials engineer and science communicator who wants to bring materials engineering to the wider public. She completed an engineering doctorate in hydrogen storage materials at UCL.

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  • Aerospace
  • How I got here
  • Issue 72

Q&A: Lucy Harden

Lucy Harden is a mechanical engineer on BAE Systems’ Digital Light Engine Head-Up Display development programme. She devises innovative solutions for pilots to display essential flight information that sits directly in their line of sight and is overlaid onto the real world.

Quick read

Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan standing with the Sir George Macfarlane medal, at the Royal Academy of Engineering awards ceremony.
  • Electricals & electronics
  • How I got here
  • Issue 71

Q&A: Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan

Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan is Co-founder and CEO of PervasID. His company provides radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers for low-cost, long-distance sensing of passive RFID tags, for use in tracking in retail, security and healthcare.

A headshot of Orla Murphy next to a blue car.
  • Electricals & electronics
  • How I got here
  • Issue 70

Q&A: Orla Murphy

Orla Murphy is an audio engineer at Jaguar Land Rover. Her role focuses on optimising and improving the sound systems in the company’s vehicles, combining her passions for science, maths and music.