The careers event will take place on Wednesday 21st August, from 2:30pm until 5:30pm in the Teaching and Learning Centre.
Drinks and nibbles will be provided thanks to our sponsors.
We are pleased to welcome the following careers exhibitors for our careers event. PLease find some biographical inforamtion ont he exhibtors below.
- EDF (Eilidh Henderson)
- NHS (Rob Harding and Joel Burton-Love)
- Southern Scientific (Sarah-Jane Lonsdale and Kieran Crow and Katie Lloyd)
- Cavendish Nuclear (Seonaid Hume and Holly Barratt)
- Natwest (Conor Hamil)
- Tracerco (Adam Tuff)
- Waters (Chris Ricketts)
- Mirion (James Parkin)
- Rapiscan (Mark Procter)
- AWE (Daniel Pitman-Weymouth)
- UKAEA (Katie Garrett)
James Parkin
Vice President of Research and Development, Mirion Technologies
James Parkin is Global Vice President of R&D at Mirion Technologies (https://www.mirion.com), a leading provider of innovative products and solutions for radiation detection, from nuclear physics through to radiation protection and healthcare. He is responsible for driving the global R&D strategy and delivery of Mirion's product, technology, and capabilities portfolio.
James holds an undergraduate degree in Physics from University of Bristol, and a PhD from the University of Surrey, having studied advanced radiation detectors and materials. He has also been a Visiting Research Fellow and a guest industry lecturer at Surrey. His career in science leadership has spanned over 20 years, with roles covering technical leadership and business management, always relying on the solid foundations developed during his PhD.
James’ career path post PhD has seen him develop from direct involvement in R&D in radiation detection to leading wider engineering teams in the nuclear industry, and further on to leading the Quantum Technology Group and later the Medical, Marine and Nuclear Department at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), before becoming VP of R&D at Mirion.
His positions have enabled him to contribute to a wide range of applications of physics and engineering (as well as business management), working with customers and partners in research, nuclear, medical, defence, and marine sectors. He has developed and patented innovative products and techniques that are used in the nuclear industry worldwide.
Mark Procter
Mark Procter joined Rapiscan in 2012 and leads the Global Cargo Technology development group. Mark has extensive experience in the development of X-ray detectors, sources and the complete design of x-ray imaging systems. Mark received a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Manchester University in 2012, holds 7 first author publications on nuclear spectroscopy research and 7 patents in X-ray inspection techniques.
Conor Hamill
Daniel Pitman-Weymouth
AWE
After studying an MPhys in Astrophysics at the University of York, I was seeking a more quantitative and more hands-on topic of study. I applied to study for my PhD in Nuclear Physics at the University of Manchester, and, in 2019, began my studies in Laser Spectroscopy under Dr Paul Campbell. During my time at UoM I was lucky enough to spend a year working at the IGISOL laboratory in Jyvaskyla, Finland, and also took part in an experiment at the CRIS set-up at ISOLDE, CERN. Though I had always imagined that I would follow an academic path, having met many researchers who were obliged to move countries in order to secure funding, I decided that an academic life was perhaps not one for me. I still wished to work on fundamental science objectives within the field of nuclear physics, which is one reason that I applied to work at AWE. Having now been at the company for ~1.5 years I am involved in two main threads of work. The first is an effort to measure neutron induced cross-sections which cannot be measured using current accelerator approaches by using the National Ignition Facility. This work affords me a great deal of travel to the California and continued engagement with international experimental facilities, which from my PhD I learned that I greatly value. The second thread of work is at the intersection of plasma and nuclear physics. I am working with Dr Brian Applebe at Imperial College to develop a platform for studying neutron induced cross-sections on isomeric states using plasma excitation mechanisms. Through this work I am able to keep a hand in the academic community and publish externally.
Adam Tuff
Senior Innovation Physicist at Tracerco
Author of Children’s book The Stuff Stars Are Made Of – nuclear physics and astrophysics for ages 3 and up
Robert Harding
Clinical Scientist with NHS
I studied an MPhys Physics with Satellite Technology at the University of Surrey where I did a placement year in the nuclear physics group at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA. Inspired by my placement in America I decided to pursue a Nuclear Physics PhD in 2015 jointly funded by the STFC and CERN at the University of York. During my studies I spent nearly 3 years living and working in Switzerland at the ISOLDE, CERN, on a range of nuclear structure and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments.
After my PhD I decided to pursue a career in industry and turned to medical physics (in particular Nuclear Medicine) in order to use the skills and knowledge I’d gained during my studies for the benefit of patients. In 2019 I was a successful applicant onto the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) and spent just over two years in Nottingham before moving to the Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) in early 2022 to finish my training. In late 2023 I was promoted to a senior scientist at the trust and research lead in nuclear medicine physics.
Eilidh Harding
EDF Nuclear Operations
Eilidh studied an undergraduate MSci (Hons) in Physics & Mathematics, University of Glasgow from 2001-2005 and performed a PhD in experimental Nuclear Physics from the University of Glasgow & Johannes Guttenburgh Universität from 2005-2009. Her thesis was: Eta Photoproduction Study with the Upgraded Glasgow Tagger at MAMI.
Eilidh works in the Civil Nuclear Industry, having worked in the roles below:
- Reactor Physicist and Safety Case Author, Magnox North Ltd (now Nuclear Restoration Services), Oldbury Technical Centre, Gloucestershire, 2009-2014
- Reactor Physicist, EDF, Hunterston B Power Station, Ayrshire, 2014-2022
- Radioactive Waste Engineer, EDF, Glasgow, 2022 to present
Seonaid Hume
Physicist
I have been a physicist at Cavendish Nuclear for almost 2 years, where I get paid to play with gamma and neutron detectors. I graduated with a Masters in Physics, and I am currently finishing off a PhD in engineering. Here to share how I turned a love for nuclear science into a career and why you should too!
Holly Barratt
Graduate Physicist
I joined Cavendish on the grad scheme in September 2023 after graduating with a BSc in Physics with Astrophysics. I completed an apprenticeship in electrical and electronic engineering many years ago, and I was a prison officer for the last 5 years! Happy to share my experiences on an unconventional route into my current role with anyone who’s worried about getting it right on the first try.
Sarah-Jane Lonsdale
Nuclear and Industrial Sector Manager
Sarah performed an MPhys in Physics from University of Surrey (2011 - 2015) which involved research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, USA. This was followed by a PhD in Nuclear Physics at University of Edinburgh (2015 – 2020 - incomplete), with thesis work at Neutron Time-of-Flight facility, CERN. And Experiments at ISOLDE, CERN and NSCL, MI, USA. Sarah has experience in the following roles:
- Technical Sales Engineer for AMETEK ORTEC (2019 – 2024)
- Sales of radiation detection equipment to nuclear power, nuclear decommissioning, defence and CBRN, environmental laboratories and universities / R&D.
- Experience with gamma detectors (HPGe, NaI, LaBr, CeBr), alpha spectrometers, quantativeanalysis software, and user training.
- Territory covered South of UK, and Ireland (both NI and ROI).
- Nuclear and Industrial Product Specialist for Southern Scientific (Jan – Jun 2024). Promoted to Nuclear & Industrial Sector Manager (Current)
- Sales of radiation detection equipment to nuclear generation and decommissioning, defence, academia and industry, across UK and Ireland, and selected export markets.
- Experience with gamma imagers (3D CZT), and liquid scintillation counters.
- Input into recent Nuclear Services developments, work closely with R&D team on market exploration and bringing new product lines to market.
Katie Garrett
Research Scientist, UKAEA
After completing MPhys degree at the University of Edinburgh I went onto perform a PhD in experimental nuclear physics at the University of Manchester. My PhD focussed on the use of solenoidal spectrometry to study nuclear structure through transfer reactions. During this time, I was fortunate enough to visit and perform experiments at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago and at ISOLDE, CERN. Following my PhD and inspired to find a role industry which would allow me to continue performing experimental research in the lab, I joined the UKAEA as a Research Scientist within the Tritium Fuel Cycle (TFC) division, which focusses on delivering solutions to the tritium challenges for the delivery of sustainable fusion. I have also recently transitioned to work for half of my time within the Applied Radiation Technology group in the Fusion Technology division, where I perform radiometric analyses of samples activated in the fusion environment.
