Profile

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Elen Williams

    • About Me:

      I’m from a little coastal town in North Wales; now living in Stroud, Gloucestershire, after starting a new job! I work as a graduate plant chemist at NNL after studying chemistry and physics at the University of Glasgow.

      My hobbies include dancing, and paddleboarding and hiking when it’s not raining!

    • Read more

      ​I’m originally from a little town called Pwllheli in the north-west of Wales, meaning I’m a native Welsh speaker. I moved to Glasgow at 18 to start my studies at the University of Glasgow, and graduated with an MSci in Chemical Physics in 2020.

      My interest in the nuclear industry sparked whilst at college when undertaking a research project as part of my Welsh Baccalaureate. During which Naoto Kan, the former prime minister of Japan, came to meet local protesters that were campaigning against the building of a second power plant at Wylfa. Now, I work for the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) as a Graduate Plant Chemist in their Fuels, Reactors & Reprocessing team at Stonehouse.

      My hobbies include dancing, I picked up pole-dancing whilst at uni which I’m keen to continue after settling in the area. I also love being outdoors, whether it’s hiking swimming or paddle-boarding!

      During the pandemic, I was able to spend a couple of months in Italy. One month, I volunteered on a vineyard making wine and another was on an olive farm making delicious organic olive oil!

    • Read more

      I look into how the materials within a nuclear power plant will corrode over time depending on the environment it’s in. The environment can vary depending on the type of reactor, e.g. AGR has a carbon dioxide gas coolant but a PWR has liquid water coolant. We need to make sure that the materials used will not break / crack and allow the coolant to leak. Also to make sure that the power plant works at its best so we can make as much energy as possible!

      I also look at how used materials corrode over time. When a power plant has been shut down, the materials need to be kept in a safe place. We need to understand how these materials corrode over time so we know what the best way / place to store them is.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up at 6:45am. I will make some porridge and tea to fuel me for the day. I start my computer at 7:30am (working from home), check my emails and work my way through a to-do list! When work finishes at 4pm, I’ll go to a dance class, for a swim or for a walk around the neighborhood.

    • Read more

      My to-do list will consist of various things, for example:

      • Make sure I sign up for I’m a Scientist Nuclear Zone in time!
      • Organise a meeting with colleagues to discuss a project
      • Research a certain type of material
      • Write a report about what I have found
      • Write a risk assessment for a lab experiment

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would use it to visit multiple schools and bring equipment to demonstrate some cool science.

    My CV

    • Education:

      Ysgol Glan y Mor (GSCEs)

      Coleg Meirion Dwyfor (A-Levels)

      University of Glasgow (MSci Chemical Physics with work placement)

    • Qualifications:

      GSCEs: English, Welsh, Maths, Science & Additional Science, Geography, Drama, Sports (My favourite subject was Maths!)

      AS Level: Biology

      A-Levels: Chemistry, Physics and Maths

      Welsh Baccalaureate

      Masters degree in Chemical Physics with work placement (I chose a degree that would cover my strongest subjects and those I was most interested in – Chem, Phys and Maths)

    • Work History:

      2010 – 2019: Waitress at various places: Pwllheli Golf Club, Tremfan Hall (Llanbedrog) and the Ship Llanbedrog.

      2016 – 2017: Chemist at PPM making formaldehyde sensors

      2018 – 2019: Chemistry intern at Agfa-Gevaert in Antwerp, Belgium where I worked on making a special laser-markable ink.

      Summer 2019: Membership and Visitor Welcome Assistant for the National Trust working on carpark on the Lleyn Peninsula

      2021: Laboratory technician at the BioComposites Centre at Bangor University

       

    • Current Job:

      Graduate Plant Chemistry (for 3 months)

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Adventurous dancing scientist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Nuclear Scientist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Once for laughing too much!

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Indina Menzel

        What's your favourite food?

        Pizza

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        1. To be able to travel the whole world. 2. Discovering the technology that can power the world. 3. Be healthy for a long time!

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you call a scientist who splits atoms to create bubbly beverages? A nuclear fizzicist.

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