Amina
MEng Materials Science and Engineering
From aerospace to automotive, biomedical to renewable energies, I will be able to use the skills I have gained in many areas.
Amina's Imperial journey started with an interest in materials science. Since joining the MEng Materials Science and Engineering course, Amina has taken this interest to new heights through her studies and involvement in the student community. Her passion for making a difference is what drives her interest in what she studies and her extra-curricular activities. Amina shares her experience of choosing Imperial, getting settled in and making the most of the opportunities available to her.
I'm Amina and I'm studying MEng Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial. When I was younger, I imagined an engineer as a highly technical person with confidence, opportunity and responsibility — qualities I highly valued. When I heard about the Henry Royce Institute and the field of Materials Science and Engineering, I knew it was for me. Despite not being able to explain to anyone what that entailed at the time, it was the best decision for me.
The broad scope of teaching in Materials is what attracted me to this course, as well as the smaller cohort size allowing increased interactions with lecturers and other students. The Design Study component in first year also seemed like an exciting opportunity to learn new skills such as 3D printing and modelling, while being in a ‘company’ with real responsibility.
I felt inspired to step out of my comfort zone and to explore where a future in Materials would lead me.
Getting settled in
Welcome events such as the Materials Challenge were a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved straight away. It can be scary to start at a university where you don’t know anyone, so the ice-breaker challenges were the first real chance to get to know people.
The tight-knit community of Materials such as the ‘Mums and Dads’ mentor scheme also made it fun and easy to join a new environment, as the support was there.
Until today, those first connections are my closest friends and we have enjoyed good times in Materials. I have especially enjoyed the Royal school of Mines and Materials’ Dinners because they are nights filled with fun, food and laughter and there are several throughout the year. Celebrating the achievements of both students and staff is a pleasure, and a nice way to learn more about lecturers. As such, the 2023 Bauerman Lecture and dinner, as well as the 2024 Novo Nordisk Symposium, are special moments.
This is a time in life when we are surrounded by people of many different backgrounds, so it is inspiring to learn from others and to make happy memories.
Making a difference
The most rewarding part of Materials for me has been getting involved with outreach. As a student ambassador I regularly have the opportunity to create fun and engaging content for current and prospective students. This has included outreach videos for the Imperial Materials Instagram, a Unifrog Interview and student perspective videos.
I particularly enjoy in-person events such as speaking during Open Day Q&As, giving department tours and widening participation. I was grateful to have the role of a mentor and helping a first-year student integrate into university life. I value being surrounded by friendly faces and people I can speak to, so forming those connections with different years makes university life more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Learning from the experts
In the summer of 2023, I completed a 10-week UROP under Dr Stella Pedrazzini in Materials Electrochemistry. UROP – the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme – is where a student approaches an academic and is able to contribute experimental and theoretical research to their field of study.
I worked on impurity-bearing alloys with a phenomenal PhD student from whom I learnt lots about myself and pursuing a life in research. I worked independently and gained competency in operating machines such as scanning electron microscopes, and I gladly shared my weekly progress with the PhD group.
I would highly recommend a UROP to anyone considering research, or wanting to experience something new, because it is the best time to implement theoretical learning with practical experience.
Laying foundations for the future
When I first joined Materials, I was unsure which sector I would like to pursue after graduating. As a third-year student, I have learned about the flexibility of this degree and how I am not limited to any one sector. From aerospace to automotive, biomedical to renewable energies, I will be able to use the skills I have gained in many areas. I have an interest in the corrosion of materials in extreme environments and I am currently exploring this. For example, I wrote a literature review on the use of geopolymer cement in offshore oil rigs. I am enjoying studying different parts of Materials and seeing where this will lead me in terms of future employment.
Research requires passion and curiosity, but also grit and resilience, and I believe the UROP experience increased my academic potential and confidence.
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