What is your background?
I graduated with an integrated masters (MEng) degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Birmingham in 2022. This course included a year long industrial placement, where I worked in Research and Development for Kimal plc, a medical devices manufacturing company based in the West Midlands. During my placement I focused on the optimisation of Hemodialysis catheter design for efficient fluid flow, using CFD, which continued into my dissertation work, and overall sparked my interest for the development of healthcare technology.
What is your research about?
Inkjet printing has recently emerged as an exciting technology for the fabrication of sensory devices, whereby layers of functional ink can be sequentially deposited to produce electronic circuits. An advantage of inkjet printing compared with conventional electronics manufacturing methods, is the ability to form devices on flexible substrates, thus producing flexible electronic devices. This development shows distinct application towards healthcare technology, where devices capable of functioning over the non-planar shape of the human body are increasingly attractive.
My research aims to develop sensors to be printed directly into wound dressings intended for the detection of key biomarkers, signalling either infection or non-closure of acute wounds. To achieve this I am utilising graphene due to its distinct electrical response to external stimuli, including but not limited to temperature, as the material to be printed onto wound dressings and form sensory devices.
Why did you choose the University of Nottingham?
The exposure to healthcare technology during my industrial placement and dissertation encouraged me to pursue a career focused on the advancement of medical devices. The PhD program at the University of Nottingham provided me the perfect opportunity to explore this field with application of the skills I learnt from my undergraduate. Furthermore, to be situated in the world-leading Centre for Additive Manufacturing surrounded by a strong multi-disciplinary team was an appealing prospect and one which has been significantly beneficial to my research.
What would you say to aspiring engineers?
I think it is important to appreciate the shear breadth of engineering, and where it can take you and to not be narrow minded about the industry you would like to pursue. When I began my undergraduate degree, I was very focused on securing an industrial position in the automotive field upon graduating, however it was not until I gained exposure to the area of medical technology that I really found what excited me, and what I wanted to pursue. Find what makes you excited about engineering.