Profile
Aimee Jackson
My CV
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Education:
I went to a regular high school – called Walton High School in Stafford. I then did my degree in physics at the University of Liverpool. After that, I went to the University of Birmingham where I am just now finishing my PhD in Fuel Cell materials.
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Qualifications:
I got my GCSEs which were a mixture of A*, A and B’s. I had to do maths, english language + literature, R.E., and double science. I also chose german, art, textiles, geography.
For my A-levels, I did maths, physics and geography. where I got 2 A’s and a B.
After this I got my degree from the University of Liverpool – a 1st class MPhys (Hons) degree. -
Work History:
I’ve worked alongside my degree by doing some work for the University of Liverpool physics outreach group. I also worked for Unilever over one summer at the end of my degree working in their process science group.
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Current Job:
I’m writing up my PhD for the University of Birmingham.
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About Me:
I live in stafford, and I’m currently finishing my PhD. I enjoy sport and going to the beach.
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Read more
I live in Stafford with my family. Apart from being a scientist, I’m also a brownie leader in my spare time. My favourite food is pasta and I also love ice cream! I also enjoy sport – at the moment I’m enjoying running and cycling. Going to the beach is something I love to do – I think because I live so far away from the sea.
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Read more
I make different powders for energy generators called fuel cells. Fuel cells work very similar inside to how a battery works – like the one inside your phone – just instead of having to re-charge the battery, in a fuel cell, you just supply it with some gas or liquid fuel when it runs out. I’m trying to make the fuel cells work better and for longer before they get worn out. You can buy a car that uses a fuel cell instead of an engine or battery. Here’s a photo of one that you might see at the University of Birmingham where I work:
I make lots of different powders and I test them to see what I’ve made. Once I know I’ve made what I wanted, I then test the powder in a test that is similar to how a fuel cell works. Then, I can make tiny fuel cells and test the powder in a fuel cell. Here’s a photo of one of my powders:
I have worked in lots of different labs across the university that I work at, but at the moment, I’m working at home and I’m finishing off my big science report of the last 4 years work – called a thesis.
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My Typical Day:
I get up early and get into work for 7:30 – 8:00. I turn on the experiments for the day and get them started. I might make some new powders by mixing and heating different chemicals, or I might use some powders I’ve made and test them in giant microscopes, or x-ray machines.
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In a typical day, I will get into the lab about 8:00 and make myself a drink. While I’m drinking my drink, I’ll plan my experiments for the day. Then, I set up my first experiment for the day and get that running – usually its a long test to see how much electricity my material can produce in a fuel cell.
Once my first experiment is set up and running all day, I’ll move on to reading some other scientists work, and writing up my work. I’ll have a break for lunch with my friends who work in the same lab as me, or with some friends who work nearby.
After lunch, I might do some small experiments like testing my powders with an x-ray or a giant microscope to see what my powder looks like. I could also spend my afternoon sending forms and emails to ask other labs if I can use their labs to test my material. I usually leave to go home about 4:00 to 5:00pm.
More recently though, I’ve been spending all my time working at home writing up my results from the last 4 years in a big book called a ‘thesis’.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d use the money to take a group from my lab to a science festival where we could talk to loads of people about how fuel cells work and show them how great they are!
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Kind, Optimistic, Creative
What did you want to be after you left school?
an elephant keeper
Were you ever in trouble at school?
only for talking or not paying attention sometimes
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Rihanna
What's your favourite food?
pasta and ice cream (not together!)
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To keep being happy in my job. To be able to travel and see the world. To buy a house.
Tell us a joke.
Why did the dinosaur cross the road? because there weren't any chickens yet.
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