My name is Aimili and I am going into my fourth year at Glasgow University studying Physics with Astrophysics. I applied to the Saltire Scholars Programme because I was hoping to gain an insight into how Physics can be used outside of academia. I was also hoping to get some experience in the medical physics industry, because this is an area of physics that I am interested in.
I was interning at Optos, a medical device company based in Dunfermline. They create equipment which is used to scan the retina and detect disease in the eye. I ended up being involved in two separate projects, but my main project was a research project which involved a literature review and then moved into communications with suppliers, including through video calls to discuss the solution. This was a hugely valuable project to be involved in as my communication skills improved greatly – not only through the written report I produced to summarise the work carried out, but also through my progress meetings with my supervisor. I found the intellectual challenge extremely rewarding. In addition, Optos emphasized how important the work carried out is to their business, and how they will continue building on my project after I leave – to think that what I was doing is useful is very gratifying.
My second project was more of a practical investigation which was great for diversifying my skillset and organising my time to produce a second white paper describing all of the tests I had carried out and my findings.
The internship was a brilliant insight into the industrial environment, but I got so much more than experience of a 9-5 – I got to see first-hand the processes that engineering companies run on, and developed my ability to effectively problem solve through real-world issues by working closely with the team of engineers. Everyone there was so eager to not only help with any questions I had, but to share their knowledge and experience with me, which was incredibly valuable. For example, some of the members of the company set up a meeting to discuss practical advice around choosing PhDs and their career paths with me and my fellow interns, just because we had expressed an interest.
Overall, my experience was a fantastic one. I feel reassured about my future and can’t wait to get started on what’s next. I would really encourage anyone to apply to the programme if they are looking to increase their competence and experience while meeting lots of amazing new people and growing into a much more well-rounded individual.
