Profile
Olivia Williams
-
About Me:
I live in Lancaster where I am an Engineering PhD student! In my own time I love reading, running, crafting and paddle boarding.
-
Read more
I have lived in Lancaster since 2019, when I started my undergraduate degree, I love the city and its location – just a stones throw from the beach or the Lake District!
I am running Paris Marathon in 2025 – something I am training for at the moment. Running helps me to switch off from work, I love tying up my laces with no specific goals and just seeing where my feet take me. -
My pronouns are:
she/her
-
My Work:
I work on developing a tool to tell you what is in the solutions found around nuclear sites. It uses light and electrochemistry mixed with engineering!
-
Read more
The aim of my work is to help the current issue of waste management in the nuclear sector. Through characterising various solutions, decisions can be made regarding safe handling and where the materials go at the end of their lifetime.
This is achieved through shining light into the solution, forcing the substance we are looking at to undergo a reaction, which is detected on a tiny piece of metal. -
My Typical Day:
I wake up and eat breakfast then head into work.
At 8am I usually sit with a coffee and go through work on my laptop (emails etc), then head into the lab for 9am.
I will later have lunch with some friends and carry on in the lab after and head home for around 4/5pm.
Sometimes this changes as I help demonstrate in undergraduate labs! -
What I'd do with the prize money:
Hosting a women in engineering event! I would gather previous alumni/ women from the industry to hold a panel with prospective students to introduce them to the world of engineering and tell their stories – hopefully inspiring the next generation of women engineers.
-
Education:
High School and A-levels at Sir Graham Balfour School, Stafford.
My A-levels were in Maths, Chemistry and French.Undergraduate degree – A 1st Class integrated Masters of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering at Lancaster University.
Currently – PhD in Engineering at Lancaster University
-
Qualifications:
GCSEs: Maths (9), English Language (9), English Literature (7), Chemistry (A*), Physics (A*), French (A*), History (A*), Biology (A), Textiles (A)
A-levels: Chemistry (A*), Maths (A), French (A), EPQ (A*)
-
Work History:
Kitchen Assistant/Waitress: March 2015 – December 2019
Graduate teaching assistant: October 2023 – Present
School of Engineering Student ambassador: October 2023 – Present
-
Current Job:
Postgraduate researcher (PhD student) @ Lancaster University
-
My Interview
-
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a doctor for a long time!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No - I was terrified of being shouted at!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Fleetwood Mac
What's your favourite food?
Crisps!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A home library! A platform to campaign for rights for women in engineering! And an endless supply of Diet Coke....
-