Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Summer Intern based in the Medical Systems Central Scientific Facility to work on a magnetically actuated robotic platforms for precise drug delivery.
As an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Applied & Theoretical Metamaterials Lab, I will support interdisciplinary research into the design, modelling, and experimental validation of metamaterials across electrical, mechanical, and bioengineering applications. I will assist with the development of meta-atom structures, contribute to numerical simulations and data analysis, and support laboratory testing of prototype systems. I will work closely with academic staff, PhD researchers, and fellow students to translate theoretical concepts into practical implementations, including CAD-based design, prototyping, and iterative experimental evaluation. The role will also involve conducting literature reviews, maintaining clear experimental documentation, and contributing to technical discussions within a multidisciplinary research environment. Through this role, I will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge metamaterials research and exposure to industry-relevant applications, while strengthening my skills in applied research, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and engineering problem-solving.
In collaboration with Sean, a deaf climber with a vestibular balance disorder, our team designed and prototyped a non-intrusive communication system for outdoor climbing, to improve safety and confidence in low signal environments.
This summer, I chose to work in a role focused on interviewing and assessing engineering candidates, not only to gain professional experience, but to better understand what companies look for in future engineers. I believe that being a good engineer isn’t just about technical skill, it’s also about being able to communicate effectively, think critically under pressure, and understand how teams are built. By participating in interviews, I explored both the technical and psychological aspects of candidate evaluation. I conducted phone interviews, asked questions that explored how applicants think and solve problems, and learned how to recognise soft skills that are just as important as academic qualifications. Throughout this experience, I reviewed resumes (particularly from electrical engineering applicants), helped shortlist candidates, and used Microsoft Excel to organise and analyse data. I also wrote professional emails to potential candidates and gained a better understanding of how companies structure their hiring processes. This job gave me a much broader perspective on the engineering world, not just what it takes to get hired, but what it means to be a well-rounded, workplace-ready engineer.