Case studies
Three University of Nottingham physics alumni talk about their current roles, how they use their degree in their job and their top career tips.
Lucy Woodward, Scientific Communications Graduate at newcleo
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I'm on a two-year graduate scheme with my main focus being scientific communications, but also with flexibility to move between different placements within the company.
SciComms has such a varied scope which I really like - it can be anything from creating technical presentations for colleagues who are off to speak at conferences, to making science-based quizzes for Instagram, anything from writing newsletters to estimating future carbon intensity figures.
How do you use the skills and knowledge gained during your degree as part of your job?
My position within the company is fairly unique. I sit within the communications team, but with one eye on our engineering teams and the progress happening across the UK, France and Italy.
My understanding of physics allows me to be a go-between for the technical and non-technical parts of the business and discern which technical information is relevant and interesting for either our internal or external audiences.
How did you become a scientific communications graduate?
Honestly, it took me longer than I expected to land a grad job - around six months of solidly job hunting alongside part-time work. I think the things that helped me stand out from the crowd the most were the initiatives I got involved with outside of my degree.
I loved working for UoN's student content creation team, producing a podcast, writing for Impact magazine and getting stuck into committee roles for the Korfball society. I also really enjoyed a summer internship with the UKRI, which definitely played a role in having relevant experience to talk about at interview.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I really love the variety of tasks and the pace of work - the company is growing rapidly so there are always new projects cropping up. We're not quite a start-up anymore, but the company was only founded around four years ago, so teams are constantly evolving.
This brings a great opportunity for getting stuck in to work that I'm interested in simply by asking questions to the right people and showing an interest. For example, I've been contributing to a project on nuclear-derived hydrogen - I helped to organise a conference for politicians and people from the industry, and co-wrote a white paper full of our recommendations targeted at policymakers. I've really found that the more you put in, the more you get out, and it's been very rewarding.
We're also an international company, so getting to travel to Europe with work has been a definite highlight so far. I got to go and visit our research facilities in northern Italy, and also travel for a team workshop in Paris!
What advice would you give to someone considering a similar career to you?
Follow what you're interested in as early as possible - the graduate job market is so competitive, so I'm very glad I had relevant work experience and made opportunities happen for myself while I had the time and opportunities around me at uni.
If you're at uni and have some spare time, is there a magazine you can pitch an article idea to? Is there a job within the uni that will give you skills while fitting it around your existing commitments? Go for it and back yourself.
Jacob Thorley, Data Graduate at Aviva
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I'm currently working as a data scientist at Aviva. My role primarily involves working with large datasets - cleaning, joining, and preparing them for analysis. I also develop and fine-tune machine learning models to help improve various business functions.
In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities, I'm undertaking a Level 7 Apprenticeship in AI and data science, which I dedicate one day a week to. Soon, I’ll be rotating into our Generative AI division, where I’ll contribute to building in-house tools utilising external and local generative AIs.
How do you use the skills and knowledge gained during your degree as part of your job?
My degree in physics has been incredibly valuable in my role. One of the most important skills I gained is an analytical mindset - the ability to break down complex systems and understand them through simplified models. This way of thinking directly translates to my work in data science.
The strong foundation in mathematics and statistics from my degree helps me not only understand how these models work but also recognise their limitations and potential biases. Additionally, the coding experience I gained - particularly in Python - has been essential. I use Python every day, and nearly all of the models I develop are built using it.
How did you become a data graduate at Aviva?
I discovered my current role through Gradcracker during the November of my final year at university. I applied and was thrilled to receive an offer the following March. After accepting the role, I took the initiative to advocate for myself to be placed on the most technical stream, aiming to work as a data scientist rather than in a more general analyst position.
This experience taught me the importance of being clear about your goals, even after securing a role, as many employers are open to accommodating your aspirations if you communicate them effectively.
What do you enjoy about your job?
There are many aspects of my job that I really enjoy. One of the biggest is that I get to code every day, which is something I'm genuinely passionate about. I also love the problem-solving nature of the work, tackling complex challenges and finding solutions gives me a real sense of achievement.
Another part I value is the continuous learning. Through my apprenticeship, I have developed my machine learning toolbox. I’ve been able to expand my skill set by learning tools like SQL and JavaScript, which help me perform better in my role. I’m also developing softer skills like stakeholder management and presenting - both of which are challenging but incredibly rewarding to improve.
What advice would you give to someone considering a similar career to you?
My biggest piece of advice is to start exploring the field as early as possible. There are so many free and accessible resources online that can help you build both your skills and confidence. Platforms like Kaggle are fantastic, not only do they offer real-world datasets and competitions to practice on, but they also have a very welcoming and supportive community where you can learn from others and share your own work.
Don’t worry about knowing everything at once. Start small - maybe with Python, basic data analysis, or simple machine learning models - and build from there. Over time, you’ll develop a strong foundation. Also, try to work on personal projects or contribute to open-source ones; they’re great for learning and can really strengthen your portfolio when applying for roles.
Finally, stay curious and open to learning. The field of data science and AI is constantly evolving, so being adaptable and proactive about your development will serve you well.
Connor Sykes, Graduate Flight Systems Engineer at BAE Systems
What is your current role and what does it involve?
As a flight systems engineer with BAE Systems, I am able to work on a range of aircraft, namely the Hawk, Typhoon, F-35 Lightening II, and the 6th generation Tempest programme.
It is a very technical role involving working closely with stakeholders to improve various systems on the aircraft as well as designing, modelling and integrating new ones and developing requirements throughout their lifecycles.
How do you use the skills and knowledge gained during your degree as part of your job?
Many aspects of my degree come in very useful on a daily basis, particularly fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, but also other skills such as preparing and delivering presentations, problem-solving, and using initiative to develop creative solutions.
How did you become a flight systems engineer?
I’ve spent the last 10 years or so working with the Vulcan to the Sky Trust on Avro Vulcan XH558 as a maintenance engineer.
I started off as an apprentice on works experience, but enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay with the trust and I gradually learnt more about the systems until I knew them inside and out and ended up becoming deputy (currently acting) chief engineer on the aircraft. This is something that I continued to do throughout my degree, gaining valuable experience and soft skills along the way that worked hand in hand with mu degree.
I always wanted a more technical design role in aviation so I decided to study physics to learn about other key factors used in aviation such as coding, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and advanced mathematic equations. Coupled together, these two things worked hand in hand and lead me to the position that I’m in today.
What do you enjoy about your job?
There is never a dull day, there’s always a new challenge to work on, a new problem to solve and new technology waiting to be created. It’s a fascinating job in a sector that I’m very interested in, and it’s great to work with so many like-minded people.
The culture and benefits of working for BAE too are second to none, it is a very inclusive company that likes to give back to the people who work for it. BAE also offers lots of flexibility with roles and great travel opportunities, allowing you to take on different and new challenges and opportunities in different sectors within the company.
What advice would you give to someone considering a similar career to you?
Take as many opportunities as you can, whether it’s volunteering and gaining experience doing something that you enjoy (like me on the Vulcan), learning or developing new skills or joining societies, this is really what makes you stand out from the crowd and gives you those top class answers when it comes to interviews.
On the subject of interviews… they’re tough! Make sure that you’re prepared, try looking up different interview questions that have been asked in the past and make sure that you have an answer for all of them (the STAR technique is key). Most important of all, enjoy yourself while you study your degree, go out and have fun, but don’t burn yourself out.