I applied for a placement in The Centre for Advanced Laser Technology and Applications (CALTA) which is a group within STFC’s Central Laser Facility (CLF).
CALTA is responsible for the development of the record-breaking, high-energy laser amplifier technology known as DiPOLE. DiPOLE technology has allowed CALTA to build the world’s first kilowatt-level, high-energy, diode-pumped, solid-state laser.
The outstanding performance of this laser is achieved through the production of pulses at an energy in excess of 100 J at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. This prototype system provides a valuable experimental platform with which new technologies can be tested both in terms of improving laser systems and exploring new applications for DiPOLE systems.
Each placement student has an own assigned project for the year, under the guidance of a technical manager. I also assist to the weekly team meetings and I take the meeting minutes and send them to all the team after the meetings. I also am involved in different projects with my line manager and work with different laser systems.
You can live in Oxford which is a nice and big city full of students and you can commute easily from there. There is a Recreational society on site where you can join different sports and activities. There is a lecture theatre where loads of weekly interesting talks. There is a big canteen and a cafeteria on site for al STFC members.
STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours. You learn a lot and receive different training.
You can take part in lots of projects with different departments so you can learn from different people and discover what you like the most.
My industrial placement offered is within a small, diverse team environment working directly with CALTA scientists and CLF engineers. You have the opportunity to be
Lab inductions. SEM training. Coating training. Laser Hazard Awareness Training Course. Safety training. Python training. Excel training. Working with cryogenics training.
I have joined the Graduate Newsletter. There is a Graduate Newsletter which is launched monthly, IP and graduate students are the ones who write it. We all meet once a week and share our ideas and any news that have taken place around the campus during the week, and the last two weeks of the month we start editing the articles together.
