Madeleine Barry, Electrical Engineering Technician

What I do

I’m an apprentice for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. I work with mechanical and electrical systems, as well as computers. I build and fix circuit boards and other electronics, to help scientists do research. At STFC we use big detectors, such as the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, to help people study things at the level of atoms, from ancient artefacts to the ingredients in chocolate bars. It’s a bit like having a very powerful microscope!

How I became a technician

For my GCSEs, I did triple science, geography, French, art and religious studies. I enjoyed art, but I especially loved science. For A-Levels, I studied maths, physics, computer science and art. It was hard work but worth it. I did work experience at STFC in Year 11 and loved it so much, I knew I wanted to work there.

How I became a technician

I preferred the idea of an apprenticeship because I could learn while doing practical work and earn money at the same time. I applied for a couple of different apprenticeships at STFC and was so pleased to be offered the Mechatronics apprenticeship.

A typical day in my working life

Right now, I spend most of my time at college, learning about electronics and mechanics. Soon, I’ll be working more regularly onsite at STFC . My day might involve tasks like building electronic circuits, checking that they work, or watching experienced technicians fix problems and helping them out. It's hands-on and never boring!

What I love about my job

The best thing is that my work helps make science happen. I’m not just putting parts together, I get to understand why I’m doing things and how it helps researchers with their experiments. Knowing that I’m making a real difference to science is exciting and rewarding.

My work helps make science happen.

Choosing something you really love makes going to work exciting.

The skills I use most

I do lots of practical things like soldering (joining wires and parts together with hot, melted metal) and testing electronics, like building test circuit boards to see if they’ll work. Problem-solving is important, I often need to spot when something isn’t working and figure out why. I need attention to detail as well. Plus, I have to be able to communicate clearly about technical things, because I have to talk with my colleagues and work together.

A little more about my everyday role

My favourite piece of equipment

It has to be an oscilloscope! This is a machine that shows electrical signals as lines on a screen. It helps me quickly spot any problems with a circuit and makes it easy to understand what's happening inside the electronics I work on.

What I like to do in my spare time

I love art and painting. I used to paint people’s pets, like dogs, cats, and even a lizard! Recently, I’ve started life drawing classes in Oxford, which is really fun. I also enjoy going to talks about science in my free time, especially about space, physics, and technology – many of them are here at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, which is great. There are so many opportunities to learn here, both for work and general interest, which I love.

A surprising fact about my job

We test all sorts of unexpected things using our special detectors, for example, we tested some Bronze Age swords from archaeological sites in Europe, which were 3,500 years old! We used the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to analyse the blades, to discover which parts of them were used more than others, so we could figure out what they had been used for. Ancient objects like these are so old and delicate that you need these special detectors to look inside them without damaging them.

What’s the most exciting thing you’ve achieved in your job?

One of the coolest things I’ve done is help make a device for STFC’s new building, the Central Laser Facility. I worked on a prototype (a first version) for equipment that will be used to create a vacuum chamber, where things can be tested with a high-powered laser . Knowing that something I've helped build is going to be used in real scientific research feels amazing.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Think seriously about apprenticeships, they’re fantastic! Don't worry if the perfect place isn’t right near your home, have a look around and don’t be afraid to move somewhere new. Choosing something you really love makes going to work exciting every day.