Utilising He charged films for neutron detection building on experience gained in previous role. The project aims to develop a handheld device using these films. He trapping is confirmed through TPD-Mass spec and RBS with the films imaged using SEM, FIB and TEM. I have lead on system development to improve our sample growth technique to trap more He.In this role I have also sought extra responsibility with supervision of undergraduate students as well as lecturing.

Research into developing novel solid He targets for use in nuclear astrophysics experiments. This involves the trapping of He in porous Si membranes grown through magnetron sputtering. Nanoparticle thin films are also utilised to increase the porosity of the structure with the particles grown in a vacuum cluster source that I developed during my PhD. The amount of He trapped in the layers is confirmed through temperature controlled desorption mass spectroscopy as well as Rutherford backscattering. The thin films can be imaged in SEM and TEM after being prepared in a focused ion beam (FIB). This multidisciplinary project requires good communication skills as well as the ability to work independently.

In this role I built and tested diode pumped solid state (DPSS) class 4 lasers. This role involved the manual alignment of the optics with the build occuring under cleanroom conditions. QC Specification was achieved by performing various tests on the lasers RMS noise and power capabilities with these values cross-referenced against set pass criteria to move the laser through each quality gate. The job required good problem solving skills and patience as each laser provided a different set of issues that needed to be solved in different ways. I gained responsibilities becoming a trusted member of the team performing more complex and in depth tasks e.g servicing old lasers, training new starters, and having my input in the continuous improvement of the build process. During my time at the company I was seconded onto a development project where I worked across departments to help get a new product into full production from R&D.