Many of our Alumni are active in Engineering roles for organisations, ranging from energy firms to car manufacturers.
Here’s a look at what some of them have achieved.
Katie Lawrence
BSc Mathematics 2009, Performance Engineer at Land Rover BAR
What does your typical day look like?
This varies regularly - the benefit of having an engineering career within a fast-paced sport often means each day is different.
How did your time at Royal Holloway help in your future career?
Of course my degree helped, but it was all the other skills I learnt - time management, team work, dedication, hard work and determination that really helped me in my career.
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
Never be afraid to ask - If you never ask, you never know!
Can you sum up your experience at Royal Holloway in three words?
Inspiring, challenging and fun.
What inspired you to become an Engineer?
Watching the Formula 1 in my third year of university. I was studying a few modules on fluid dynamics at the time and thought 'wow - I could learn about this and work in that, and also potentially win a world championship'. The thought of doing something I loved while working on something so fast and exciting really drew me into that field. I then went on to study a Master’s degree specialising in Aeronautics.
Why do you think Engineering is an important field of study?
It’s what makes the world go round. It helps us break down, understand and rebuild bigger and better - pushing technology to the limit. It’s really exciting!
James McNaughton
Mathematics MSci 2004-08, Research Engineer - Offshore Wind at EDF Energy R&D UK Centre
What does your typical day look like?
Fortunately, the work is varied and no two days are the same. I work in offshore wind but I'm also involved in wave and tidal energy - it's important to keep up with the state of the art developments in my industry so I attend conferences and work closely with universities.
I work on and manage a range of projects at any one time. Currently I'm investigating methods to make offshore wind turbine maintenance safer, and looking at the feasibility for floating offshore wind turbines.
My work can involve desk-based research, numerical modelling, data analysis and experiments. Our team is small and we have a lot of interns and EngD students, so I'm involved in supervising their work and developing new projects that will take the business and offshore renewable industry forwards.
How did your time at Royal Holloway help in your future career?
At Royal Holloway I found a passion for fluid mechanics which I took forward with an MSc and PhD. It was this path which took me into my career in renewable energy. My maths degree gave me a really strong analytical ability, but it is the skills in fluid dynamics and programming which I use every day and I wouldn't be able to work without.
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
Join a club or society and do an internship in your summer.
What inspired you to become an Engineer?
I like solving problems.
Why do you think Engineering is an important field of study?
There is no generic engineer - studying an Engineering subject will allow you to shape a career around your areas of interest, using the skills you love.
Charlotte Ayres
MSci Physics 2009-2013, Systems Engineer for Missile Systems at MBDA
What does your typical day look like?
My days are flexible, which means I can vary my work times, but I typically arrive at the office for 8am. I use SysML or Doors to write technical requirements, attend a few meetings and maybe attend a training course on a new bit of software.
How did your time at Royal Holloway help in your future career?
It gave me the problem solving skills and quick learning to adapt to almost any technical role.
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
If you don't know what you want to do, don't specialise too early because almost all skills learnt at university are transferable, so there is no need to worry.
Can you sum up your experience at Royal Holloway in three words?
Friendly, vibrant and idyllic.
What inspired you to become an Engineer?
I found a graduate scheme in a really interesting sector (originally space sector) which used my Physics skills in a practice work setting.
Why do you think Engineering is an important field of study?
Without Engineers we wouldn't have roads to drive on, houses to live in and pictures of Pluto to marvel over. I used to make CCD (charge coupled devices) which are image sensors for space. Engineering, as a subject, covers a lot more than people think and it's a brilliant, interesting career path to choose.
