Josie C

"My 'personality types' fit with the work I do, as communicating is an essential part of being a physicist/scientist. As part of my work I need to be able to clearly communicate the research I have been doing both internally and externally through conferences and reports/journal papers. I also need to be organised to manage my workload and to design/simulate the experiments I am involved in within the timeframe we are given. Finally, within the company I work for, there are lots of opportunities to do outreach and mentor graduates. Therefore, being a 'Trainer' helps me to be able to share my knowledge enthusiastically with students and the public. "

"My main job role involves simulating/designing high energy density physics experiments conducted on high power lasers (e.g. Orion laser facility) to look at and improve the physics models within the codes used to simulate them. I love having the opportunity to travel and attend events/conferences in the UK and abroad. I also enjoy that my work enables me to be part of some of the Institute of Physics committees and it gives me opportunities to get involved in promoting STEM to students and the public. Finally, being able to do really cool physics on high power computers is fun. There is a grading system with opportunities to be put forward for promotion each year. There are also two routes - the managerial route and the distinguished scientist route. I am currently working part time (21 hours per week) and partly work from home. I have just started a six-month secondment within HR working alongside the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Manager to improve ED&I where I work, showing that there is scope to work flexibly, as well as move about the company and gain skills in other areas."

"It was actually my Dad mainly and also Stephen Hawking who provided inspiration for me. My Dad, although a Buyer, loved reading up about the latest physics/science ideas and we had quite a few science books in the house including 'A Brief History of Time', which I read and loved. I loved the concept of black holes and the fact that nothing could escape - even light. My Dad also bought me a telescope and he used to take me to astronomy meetings and through this I decided fairly early on when at secondary school that I wanted to do Astrophysics as a degree."

"I love watching films especially Sci-Fi, going to the theatre, walks in the countryside, doing puzzles and entering competitions. I also love spending time with my family, especially with my children."

"My day typically consists of running hydrodynamic codes and particle-in-cell codes to simulate high power laser experiments in preparation for the experiments and in analysing the experimental results. My day may also include meetings to improve equity, diversity and inclusion within the company, attending Institute of Physics events, committee meetings and doing outreach."

"Secondary education (GCSE/O-Levels) 9 GCSEs achieved 1 A, 6 Bs, 1 C and 1 D (English, Dual Science, Maths – B, BB, C respectively) Post secondary education (College, A-levels, NVQ3 or equivalent) A Level English Literature (D), General Studies (B), Maths (C), Physics (D) Undergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.) Post-graduate degree (MSc, MA, etc.) MPhys Astrophysics 2:1 (hons) from Cardiff University Doctorate (PhD) PhD (Positron and Positronium Interactions with Atoms and Molecules) from UCL "