Studying at the University of Central Lancashire helped Nanoscience and Nanotechnology graduate, Christopher Sullivan, get his dream job at Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant after discovering a passion for nuclear energy whilst at University.
MSc Nanoscience and Nanotechnology graduate, Christopher, had always been fascinated with science, particularly physics. Whilst studying at UCLan, modules such as ‘Physics of Energy’ helped Christopher sculpt his interests and he identified nuclear energy as something he would later seek employment opportunities in.
After graduation, Christopher successfully gained the role of Graduate Engineer at Risktec Solutions (in partnership with EDF Energy), working at the Hinkley Point B nuclear power station in South-West England. He works in the Lifetime and Reliability team and is responsible for ensuring the reliability of plant systems, ensuring that maintenance schedules are suitable to support system functions moving forward. Christopher also attends regular webinars and training sessions to further his in-role knowledge.
As part of his course, Christopher had access to various industry-standard equipment, including the facilities and equipment in our multi-million pound Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC). Christopher said that working with these facilities and equipment gave him an insight into working in a real-world environment. When asked about what impact UCLan had on his life, Christopher said:
" Without UCLan I would never have been in the position I am in nor been afforded the opportunities I have been given."
— Christopher Sullivan, MSc Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
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Christopher chose to study at UCLan as he was impressed with the empowering environment, saying that staff and fellow students always help you develop and improve as a person. Christopher says that he has learned and developed a problem-solving mentality, something that he believes employers crave.
Christopher states that one of the most valuable parts of his experience at UCLan was the opportunity to learn from the academics who helped him to open his mind to future career opportunities. He said, “The areas I covered within the course content are some of the fastest-growing industries, covering many modern-day technologies such as computing, healthcare and sustainability.”
He was also impressed with the support available to him and said that staff were always available to make sure that students were prepared for their coursework submissions and exams.
When asked to sum up his experience at UCLan, Christopher said: “The wealth of knowledge and experience that I gained during the course and the strong relationships with staff and fellow students was invaluable. In my opinion, there is no better place to find your calling in life than at UCLan.”