Profile

I am a research scientist working at the ISIS neutron source.

Neutrons give us a unique view of the atomic world. Using my dedicated machine I can investigate what happens to atoms when they are subjected to extreme pressures such as those found in the centre of planets.

Using such techniques also allows us to make new materials with interesting properties which may one day end up in everyday items in our lives.

One day I can be helping someone squeeze explosives and the next helping someone understand the nature of the interior of icy moons.

As well as squeezing the materials we can also heat and cool them to extreme temperatures.

My day normally starts with some experimentation where I use a device that can squeeze materials to pressures that are equivalent to those that are found 600 km below our feet.

I then fire neutrons at the materials and observe how they interact – this gives us information as to how the atoms have reacted to these extremes and we can see the new atomic arrangements within the materials.