Question: In your own words, describe what you had to do to achieve this job and what happens in work in as much detail as you like.

Charlotte Slade answered on 12 Mar 2025:

To get where I am today, I basically turned my childhood curiosity into a career! 🔬

My journey started with a broad education that taught me something valuable from every subject. At GCSE, I loved how different disciplines connected:
• Maths and Physics gave me problem-solving skills
• Biology showed me how complex systems work
• Chemistry helped me understand material interactions
• Design & Technology taught me practical engineering skills
• Languages developed my communication abilities
• English improved how I explain complex ideas
• RS helped me develop critical thinking & the ability to understand different perspectives.

I studied physics at university, focusing on how materials work at the tiniest levels. My PhD involved researching how materials behave inside carbon nanotubes – basically understanding stuff so small you’d need incredibly powerful microscopes to see it.

After my doctorate, I started working in research and development, first at a small materials company and then at Thermo Fisher Scientific. My job isn’t just about doing experiments – it’s about designing entire scientific instruments that help other researchers make discoveries.

A typical day might involve:
• Designing new ways to analyze surfaces down to the atomic scale
• Video calling teams around the world about our latest inventions
• Building prototypes to test new analysis techniques
• Solving technical puzzles with my colleagues
• Explaining complex scientific concepts in ways everyone can understand

The most exciting part? We’re creating tools that help scientists develop better solar panels, more efficient batteries, and potentially new medical treatments. It’s like being a scientific inventor, constantly pushing the boundaries of what we can see and understand.

My A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Biology gave me the analytical skills crucial for scientific research. The French was a bonus (because I loved it!) – science is international, and communicating with researchers globally is incredibly useful!

My work combines physics, engineering, and a whole lot of problem-solving. Science isn’t just about one subject. It’s about combining knowledge, being curious, and seeing how different disciplines connect. My wide-ranging education taught me that being curious about everything can be your greatest strength! 😄