The role

"I worked as a Radiation Protections Physicist within the Health, Safety and Environmental Protection/Radiation Protection/Accelerators and Sites Section. 

My role encompassed learning the foundational physics background on radiation and its physical measurements, its effects, followed by protective quantities.

The role then narrowed into radiation protection assessments through FLAIR simulations and benchmarking the data from our experimental results, finishing with material definitions in the FLAIR database. I learnt to use the Fluka / FLAIR software to make models similar to CAD drawings which we constructed at university."

My highlights 

"During my placement, I had the opportunity to carry out two experiments, one on the Prévessin site in France for calibrating our DIAMON detector, plus a set of experiments in the Meyrin East Area Site in Switzerland, to create the ambiance dose equivalent and neutron spectra. These were definitely the highlights of my placement.

I most enjoyed working at the interface between theory and practice, to see how radiation physics concepts translate into real simulations and operational decisions.

The collaborative and international environment at CERN is something I valued greatly, as well as the chance to meet engineers and scientists from around the world."

My learnings

"My degree at Queen Mary provided a strong foundation in physics, mathematics and analytical thinking. Modules in materials science and computational methods helped me approach the technical aspects such as CERN's FLAIR software with confidence, while the university's laboratory and project work developed my independence and the discipline required in a professional research environment. 

During the placement, I was surprised by how thoughtfully the onboarding process was structured. After the initial training and guidance, I was encouraged to explore research of my own accord, including into the Sullivan guide to radiation. The balance between support and autonomy created an environment where learning felt very natural and rewarding. 

The placement has strengthened both my technical understanding and my problem-solving approach."

My advice for students considering a placement 

"Be prepared for a steep learning curve, but feel free to ask for help when needed. Everyone is ready to help and walk you through any concepts you are unsure about, so ask questions confidently.

It is completely normal to feel underprepared. I had the chance to learn and deepen my understanding on the topic I chose to research, so don't feel that you are underprepared for a role."