Supporting the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers
Alasdair is currently in the third year of his undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge (Selwyn College), where he is specialising in Materials Science within the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy. Excelling in this field, Alasdair has focused his studies on areas such as the fracture and fatigue of materials, a subject closely tied to the safety requirements that underpin many engineering applications.
To secure his internship with ION Science®, Alasdair attended a formal interview at The Hive, meeting with a panel including R&D Director, Garfay Liu, and Research Manager, Cat Gardner. Following his successful interview, he was offered the position and joined the Research and Development department at The Hive Technology Centre, with Cat Gardner as his manager.
During his time at ION, Alasdair has been involved in several new product development projects, contributing to meaningful research and testing, including:
- PID sensor performance testing – measuring linearity of sensors across their operating range.
- T90 testing – analysing response times, such as the time taken for a sensor to reach 90% of its maximum signal when exposed to isobutylene.
- Lamp life research – investigating performance and stability over time.
Alongside his technical work, Alasdair has had the opportunity to tour ION’s facilities, including R&D labs, commercial spaces, and testing rooms. He highlighted the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere at ION, describing it as both an enjoyable and comfortable place to work. True to one of ION’s core values – having fun – he has also enjoyed the more social side of life at The Hive, particularly making use of the pool tables in the breakout areas.
Reflecting on his experience, Alasdair shared that the internship has been both rewarding and inspiring, giving him valuable insights into real-world applications of his academic studies and the chance to contribute to innovative sensor technology development.
At ION Science®, we are proud to support emerging talent in science and engineering, and we wish Alasdair the very best as he continues his studies at Cambridge and beyond.
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