Profile
Calum Cunningham
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About Me:
I live with my partner in Abingdon (near Oxford). I recently finished univeristy and now I’m working full-time. I love sports and exercise, especially rugby, but I also love sitting at home playing Playstation!
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I was born and raised in Luton, Bedfordshire, where I went to a pretty rough state school. I really enjoyed school though and I worked hard to get top grades and ended up at the University of Oxford, studying Materials Science. I graduated in summer 2021 and now I’m working for the National Nuclear Laboratory on projects related to nuclear power (not weapons!)
Outside of work, I like a bit of everything really! I’m focused on staying fit so I like to be outdoors running, hiking or playing rugby. I played a lot of rugby and basketball in school and university, but since then I’ve relaxed my commitments and just like to play sport socially with my friends. If I’m not out and about, then I do love a bit of Playstation (but my girlfriend doesn’t!) or just watching movies and TV series. I’m also a massive foodie, so I spend a fair bit of my time cooking and eating – nothing makes me happier than great food!
Another one of my passions in travelling. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited some amazing places like China, Vietnam and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). There’s so many more places I want to explore so I’m looking forward to travelling again.
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Materials Science is the study of engineering materials. Think of all the things you use every day and what they are made of – like your house, car, phone, shoes… anything! It’s all made from one or more materials. So when I say engineering materials, I mean things like steel, concrete, titanium, aluminium, wood, plastic, rubber and lots more.
Specifically, I work on materials that have applications in nuclear power. A big nuclear power plant is made up of countless parts, all made from a material. Things like steel, concrete, nickel alloys and zirconium alloys are all really important parts of my job (a lot of different metals basically). We care about things like how strong they are, what temperatures they melt at, when they are going to rust and fall apart etc. Most importantly, the materials need to stay strong and do their job so that they are safe.
At the National Nuclear Laboratory, we’re also trying to develop new and improved materials to use in the future. Nuclear power is really important because it doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases and so it can help us combat global warming and climate change!
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My Typical Day:
I start work at around 8am. At the moment, I usually work from home but some days I’ll cycle into the office. Most of my day-to-day tasks are done on the computer, and I have meetings and discussions with fellow scientists. Every few weeks, we’ll do an experiment in the lab and sometimes these last for several days! Normally, I’d finish work around 5pm.
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I wake up and have some breakfast (I never miss breakfast) then I’m ready to start work at 8am. Sometimes I’m working from home, and some days I’ll cycle into the office. It’s about 20 minutes on the bike for me.
Most of my work is on the computer and involves things like analysing experimental data, reading scientific papers and reports, writing reports, having meetings with other scientists and computer modelling. Some days there’s lab experiments to be done instead. Some experiments require you to travel to special facilities and can last several days. Recently, I was involved in a 24 hour experiment at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron (a big particle accelerator).
I usually finish around 5pm and then I’m free to do whatever I like!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d use the money as prize money again to run a competition for students around the country to come up with their best ideas for the future of nuclear power. I hope that this would get more pupils interested in the nuclear sector and help them realise the importance of nuclear power in beating climate change.
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Education:
Lea Manor High School, Luton
Luton Sixth Form College, Luton
University of Oxford
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Qualifications:
GCSE: 11x A/A*
A Levels: A* in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics
Degree: MEng (First Class Hons) in Materials Science
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Work History:
Sales Assistant, Sainsbury’s
- I worked at Sainsbury’s part-time during Sixth Form and then returned during University breaks. I worked on the check-outs, then the counters, then the cafe.
Summer intern, Selex ES (now Leonardo)
- I done a 6-week summer internship at this engineering company who specialise in Defence and Space
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Current Job:
Graduate Materials Scientist, National Nuclear Laboratory
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Ambitious materials scientist
What did you want to be after you left school?
An engineer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes a little bit, but I always got away with it!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
The Weeknd
What's your favourite food?
Too difficult - I love all good food equally!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
For myself... My dream house; unlimited carbon-free travel; good health forever.
Tell us a joke.
There's two goldfish in a tank. Who's driving?
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