Kyle Russell
University:
University of Southampton
Placement:
Centronic
"The placement allowed me to explore areas like engineering and design, which I ended up really enjoying."
Describe a typical day:
A typical day started with checking in on my ongoing projects and any urgent emails or tasks that came through. I attended morning meetings where we discussed team goals for the day or week ahead and specific tasks such as data analysis, testing detectors, or CAD design work. I collaborated with team members to solve problems and contributed to various stages of project development. In the afternoon, I focused on project updates or documentation, finishing the day by reviewing the progress of various projects.
Why did you decide to do a placement?
I decided to do a placement because I wanted hands-on experience in the industry and to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It was also an opportunity to apply the skills I’ve learned during my studies to real-world problems and build a network within the field. In addition, it gave me a platform to develop skills that I may not have fostered during my academic work.
How do you think doing a placement has benefited you for the future?
The placement has benefited me by giving me a clearer understanding of the industry and helping me develop my professional skills. I’ve also gained confidence in my technical abilities, built a professional network that could help me in future career opportunities, and strengthened skills such as data analysis and CAD design.
What are your next steps?
My next steps are to complete my degree and continue developing the skills I learned during my placement. Working in an industrial environment made me passionate about engineering, and I now plan to pursue a graduate scheme in Medical Engineering, a field I’m eager to explore further.
