Graduate Profile of the Month

jonathan_breeJuly’s profile is Jonathan Bree. Jonathan graduated in 2013 with a BA in Industrial Design & Technology. He is now a Supporting Industrial Designer at LEGO, Denmark.

Your background:

From a young age, I have been interested in design – taking apart household items, trying to improve them and see how they worked, much to the joy of my parents. At sixth form, I studied Product Design, Art, Psychology and Media. This helped me focus and refine my interests and Industrial Design seemed like a perfect fit – part art, part science, balancing form and function. Loughborough’s reputation, as one of the leading design universities and strong links with industry, drove my decision to study there. Loughborough provided a great chance for personal growth and I joined the Hazlerigg Rutland committee, started my own t-shirt company, and took up several new sports in my time there. I also spent the third year working in industry, designing branding and packaging for the major spirits brands.

Where are you now?

I am currently working at LEGO HQ in Denmark, designing the concept and experience of the LEGO ‘House’ Project. The House experience will consist of a series of interactive exhibits and activities in an equal balance between play, learning and creativity, to showcase the ‘hands on, minds on’ play of LEGO. It is expected to draw 250,000 visitors per year.

How did you get there?

I found out about the position at LEGO through my department’s career emails, which asked for a portfolio of work to be sent to the department head for short-listing. I was lucky enough to be selected, and a month later I had a Skype interview. My placement year also greatly helped with finding a job after graduation by giving prior experience in a design and project management role.

Where are you going?

I have recently been accepted onto the Telefonica/O2 Graduate scheme and will start work in September, which I am very excited about. I will be focused in the area of design and innovation and have the opportunity to choose my own role. Over the course of two years I will work in different areas of the business, including Wayra, the technology start-up accelerator.

What advice would you give now to a student studying your subject at university now?

Structure your time well, make plans and stick to them. I recommend doing a year in industry, I found it very helpful. Lastly, when lecturers say final year is a lot of work, they are understating it – prepare as much as possible

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Graduate Profile of the Month

June’s profile is Daniel O’Flynn. Daniel graduated in 2013 with a MChem Chemistry. He is now studying for a PhD in Chemical Synthesis in Bristol Universities Centre for Doctoral Training (BCS CDT)

 

Where are you now?

I am now doing a PhD in Chemical Synthesis in Bristol Universities Centre for Doctoral Training (BCS CDT). This is a slightly different PhD program to the conventional PhD route.  It involves an initial seven month training period prior to starting a PhD project.  In the training period I have been able to carry out three 7-week lab rotations in different research groups. This has allowed me to gain experience with new equipment, new chemistry and new techniques that I was previously unfamiliar with. Additionally, it also involves a lecture course, tutorial and workshop sessions, problem sessions, presentations in journal club, and brainstorming potential PhD projects. I am now coming to the end of the seven month training period and will be starting my PhD project in mid-April.

How did you get there?

During my industrial placement year I received an email about the Chemical Synthesis CDT at Bristol and was instantly interested.  The advantages over the conventional PhD route were obvious to me.  Carrying out three lab rotations in different research groups sounded like a great way to start at a new university, allowing me to meet the supervisors/research groups and get a feeling for the place.  I could then make an informed decision about which PhD supervisor/project I will  choose for the next three and half years. The Careers and Employability Centre and my personal tutor helped me to perfect my CV and I applied to Bristol University on their application website. I was able to get an interview a month or so later and everything happened relatively quickly from there.

Where are you going?

I am just about to finish the initial training period and will be starting my PhD project in mid-April.  By way of ambitions, I hope that the PhD and my time at Bristol goes smoothly, ideally stumbling upon new chemistry that I can publish in journals.  In the longer term, I wish to obtain my PhD and go into research in industry. At this moment in time, a career in pharmaceutical/agrochemical research would be my desired career choice.

What advice would you give to a student studying your subject at university now?

I would definitely say enjoy it, try to keep motivated, don’t let the work pile up and ask lots of questions.  Additionally, it’s also worth making sure you understand and refresh on the basics throughout the course, as the basics are going to be fundamental when the hard stuff kicks in.  Finally, I would say enjoy the union while you’re there…I miss FND!

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