Reehab
MRes Soft Electronic Materials
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Prior to doing the MRes in Soft Electronic Materials in the Department of Physics, I studied Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. Nowadays, I spend most of my time in the Molecular Sciences Research Hub located within the White City Campus, where my research group is based.
Coming to Imperial for an engineering degree was not what I had imagined for myself. Everyone in my family is a doctor and I was set to do the same. However, they were all very supportive of my decision to do something different.
Discovering my passion
During my undergraduate degree, with progressively complex lectures and lab work, I grew incredibly interested in functional materials, rather than the more conventionally known aspects of materials science such as metallurgy. That specialised into an interest in materials used for energy storage, which led me to electronic polymers, a relatively new field in the multiverse of materials.
My experience of the course
The research in the field of soft electronic materials at Imperial is highly advanced. Particularly due to the Centre for Processable Electronics which is a cross-departmental collaboration based in Imperial involving experts who have been studying these materials for decades.
A lot of the lab work I do is completely out of my comfort zone as it is physical chemistry and I have a background in materials science. It can be frustrating at times as well when experiments don’t pan out the way you expected or if you make mistakes and you must redo hours or even days’ worth of work. However, I have noticed I am becoming more comfortable operating instruments and equipment in a manner that is required for rigorous scientific research.
My Master’s project
The most interesting thing I’ve learned has to do with my Master’s project. I am currently working to understand the dielectric properties of organic water splitting photocatalysts, which can ideally be used to produce and store hydrogen fuels. These functional materials behave very differently from inorganic ones and are incredibly fascinating to study. It absolutely blows my mind to think that they are essentially the manifestation of a chemist’s dreams.
My project is a collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory, so I have access to a community and research facilities beyond Imperial, which is super cool. It is based in Teddington, a gorgeous town in borough of Richmond Upon Thames, which makes the commute very enjoyable. I have three incredible supervisors with a wealth of experience and expertise in organic semiconductors and characterisation techniques who are incredibly supportive. The research group I am a part of is also a big friendly family, and this makes it so much more comfortable for me to approach people if I require help.
Moving on to a PhD
As with most difficult things, the course has been incredibly intellectually rewarding. I’m astonished thinking about the growth of my knowledge over the duration of my course, and it has left me convinced that a PhD is on the cards for me, and perhaps a career in research. Ideally, it would be at the intersection of research, academia, and industry. The specific area that I want to specialise in has changed enormously, as my deep appreciation of electronic polymers was not something I initially expected.
Movie nights and pizza
Outside of my studies, I was able to reconnect with the Harry Potter Society, which I founded with friends during the pandemic while I was an undergraduate at Imperial. We have movie nights with pizza every few weeks, as well as themed events! I also hunt for books from the Central Library’s ‘Recommended Reads’ shelf on the ground floor is a personal favourite of mine as they always curate a good selection.
Using London as a hub for travel
Living in London came instinctively to me as I’m from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, which is a bustling metropolis. London is fast-paced and sometimes tiring. So, I try to find relaxing things to do such as going on walks and cycle rides, to get rid of the energy that builds up over time. I’ve also been able to travel to different parts of England and Europe which was a big bucket list item.