World Laboratory Day celebrates the place where great discoveries and inventions are made and, as materials scientists, we are no strangers to new discoveries ourselves. We caught up with Applications Chemist, Rosie Lawton to tell us a little bit about her work in the M&I laboratory.
What do you do at M&I Materials?
“I am an Applications Chemist, providing technical support for customers of our MIDEL business, which is our brand of ester transformer liquids.”
What is your involvement in the lab?
“My involvement in the lab is quite varied. My main role involves testing in-service samples to verify they meet specification and conducting compatibility testing with MIDEL and transformer materials. In addition to this, I am involved in more fundamental areas of research that help further industry’s understanding of the materials we make here in Trafford Park.”
What do you enjoy most about working in the lab here?
“The variety of the role. I am not based in the lab on a daily basis, so I do enjoy it more when I am in as it gives me the chance to ‘roll my sleeves up’. I have a natural wider interest in the company and I like to see the development of projects undertaken by the rest of the technical team, too.”
“As well as the work I’m involved in with MIDEL there is quite a range of exciting work going on currently, like with our EV battery coolants and and our new lubricants business, so our lab can be one of the most interesting places in the company.”
What inspired you to embark on a scientific career?
“I have always had a love for science in general. Chemistry is everything and the more you think about it, the more you realise how vast the subject is. I love knowing why things are the way they are and how we can use that understanding to enhance our lives in so many different areas.”
What made you interested in starting your career at M&I whilst studying?
“Although I enjoyed my time as a student, I knew what sort of role I wanted to move into. I liked the company values and the role itself was really appealing to me. I felt that I would fit in perfectly with the team and that I would have the opportunity to develop my career within the company.”
