Sarah-Jane Potts

"I am a good coordinator, trainer and influencer, which is useful in my job where I am responsible for planning and conducting a range of engineering projects. I am also very conscientious, tenacious and a good team worker. Which means I am good at planning and organising projects and will ensure the work gets done both working alone and in a team."

"I am a Scale Up Technology Transfer Fellow (Research Engineer) at Specific IKC, Swansea University. Specific is a research group in Swansea University that specialises in creating buildings as power stations by working on a range of technologies that enable buildings to sustainably produce and store both energy and heat as well as design new products that work well with sustainable energy sources. My main role is upscaling printed electronics that can be used in off grid buildings, partcularly perovskite based solar cells along with printed ressitive based heaters for underfloor heating. Both of which are predominantly screen printed. My work typically consists of lab based activities where I get to create and test the printed electronics. As well as writing reports, papers and presentations. As well as this I am also able to do some teaching, assisting with lab classes and lectures for undergraduate students. The main outcomes of my role are developing lab scale printed electronics into larger devices that can be used in off grid homes and buildings. I love that I am working on developing new and exciting forms of sustainable energy and also enjoy the variety of activities I get to do. Ranging from hands on lab work, to writing papers to teaching young, enthusiastic students which I find very rewarding. As a post doctoral Engineer, my starting sallary is around £30k. Although most other Mechanical and Materials based Engineers with only a BEng can go on to starting sallary of around £25k."

"I was fascinated with art and design in school and always loved creating pieces which had an impact on people lives. But I wanted a way of reaching more people and helping to change the face of the technology that people use and experience in everyday life. To bridge these two worlds, I went on to study Product Design Engineering, where I could continue to be creative, but also apply my understanding of maths and science which I studied upto Masters level (MEng). My fascination with healthcare and sustainable energy designs then moved me towards printed electronics, leading me to do a four year Engineering Doctorate (EngD) on the screen printing of functional materials. During which I assessed the effect of different conductive ink components on the print performance and ink deposition mechanisms of carbon based inks which are used in devices such as biosensors, pressure sensors, printed heaters and photovoltaics. After completing my doctorate, I wanted the opportunity to apply my knowledge to helping improve the performance of products such as solar cells. As a result, I found a job as a Scale Up Technology Transfer Fellow at Specific IKC where I can combine my understanding of printed electronics with my passion fof sustainable energy and product design."

"When I'm is not getting my hands dirty in the labs, writing papers, training or teaching staff and students, you will find me dancing, climbing, kayaking or volunteering with my local community woodland group and Bushcraft and Survival School. I am a great lover of a number of dances, including Hip-Hop, Argentine Tango, Hoop Dance and Pole dance. I use these as a way of relaxing, working out and enjoying time with my friends. As well as this, I also enjoy crafts and creating things as presents for those I care with crochet, pyrography and painting. I also use pyrography to upcycle a range of wooden items such as stools, boxes frames etc. and teach the skill to some of the older children in the Bushcraft School."

"I do not have a typical day as such, as it can include a range of things such as lab work, writing, teaching, training and meetings. My lab work is very practical and can include setting up, running and cleaning the screen-printer. If you cannot commit to cleaning, then don't consider screen printing! I also spend a lot of time using a range of microscopes, including 3d microscopes that can create a surface profile of prints as well as Scanning Electron Microscopes, that are able to look at a sample with thousands of times magnification so I can investigate my samples at nano scale. I also look at the electrical performance of the carbon inks and the overall efficiencies of the solar cells. These tasks can be very fun but require patience and perseverance as they can also be repetitive."

"After GCSEs, I went on to study A Levels, completing full A Levels in Mathematics, Art & Design and Physics and also did English Language up to AS Level. As well as this, I also did the Level 3 Welsh Baccalaureate. After A Levels, I went on to study Product Design Engineering at University, where I did a four year integrated Masters of Engineering (MEng). Having found a fondness for academia and research, I then went on to do an industrially sponsored Engineering Doctorate in Materials Engineering (EngD) with the Materials and Manufacturing Academy at WCPC, Swansea University, with my sponsoring company icm Print on Screen-printing of functional materials. Having become passionate about screen-printing and printed electronics, particularly for sustainable energy, I then started working as a Scale Up TTF (Research Engineer) for Specific, Swansea University."