Why did you choose Strathclyde for your physics degree?

As I couldn’t afford to move into a student flat, it was always going to be either Strathclyde or Glasgow and I just got a much better feeling from the staff at Strathclyde who I met at the open days. As I found out later, my intuition was correct and the lecture courses and labs that I had with these guys were for the most part well prepared and excellently taught. I don’t regret my decision in the slightest.

What did you do after graduation and how did your degree get you to where you are now?

After graduating, I stayed at Strathclyde and did my PhD there between the Institute of Photonics and (once it opened) Fraunhofer CAP.  I then moved abroad to Germany and took a position in the laser group at the European XFEL, where I’ve been ever since and just recently celebrated my 10^th anniversary at the facility.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

It’s probably seeing the first laser system we developed for the XFEL being installed and used for its first user experiments. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into getting to that point, so to see it finally get used for its intended purpose and that it actually worked beyond even our expectations was very gratifying.

What is the best part of your job?

I love getting my hands dirty and building technical things, which I blame on all the LEGO from childhood.

Currently, with all the maintenance work we have going on in the facility, I have plenty of opportunities to construct, align, repair and refurbish optical systems, which I really enjoy.

What physics-related skills do you use in your daily life/career?

I’m lucky that I ended up in a position where I get to use a fair chunk of what I learned at university in my day-to-day life. In my position, there’s a lot of fault-finding which is heavily reliant on my knowledge of lasers and optics, as well as electronics and software engineering. It’s a very practical and hands-on position most of the time, though, so I don’t do as much in the way of simulations as I would have liked, but it crops up now and then, too.

You probably won’t get another chance in life where you’re in a position with such easy access to so many experts who are willing to help you –  take advantage of that!

What is your favourite memory of being a physics student?

Out of the ones that are suitable for public consumption? I still have very fond memories of the first year classes with Nigel Langford. He’s an excellent and enthusiastic educator, and having him as the first member of staff that most students got to experience back then was a shrewd move on the Department’s part for sure! I also made a lot of great friends in that class that I’m still in regular contact with 20 years later.

What advice would you give to current physics students?

First of all, try to find what you like about the subject and really dig into it and try to enjoy it. If you can get an idea of what you want to do, you can really drive in the direction and hopefully find a position that you find fulfilling. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how stupid they might seem to you. We have a culture in Scotland of not sticking our hands up or our heads above the parapet, but if you want to get the most out of your time at university, you’re going to have to break out of this and not be embarrassed about it. You probably won’t get another chance in life where you’re in a position with such easy access to so many experts who are willing to help you –  take advantage of that!