Profile
Anna Dickinson-Lomas
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About Me:
I’m a materials science researcher, and I live with my partner in Birmingham. I love reading, gluten-free baking and going out for coffee, but my absolute favourite thing to do is travelling!
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When I’m not working, I love to read all kinds of fiction stories, from the classics to more modern romance or even action mysteries. One of my favourite books is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
I am gluten-free and dairy-free, so I experiment a lot with my own baking recipes – it’s fun to try new things and to recreate safe versions of the things I can’t have!
When I’m not at home, I love to explore new places, go for walks and see nature. It’s one of my life goals to visit as many countries as possible!
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My pronouns are:
She/Her
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My Work:
I am a Materials Science and Engineering PhD student at the university of Birmingham. I am researching ways to remove the plastic coatings from magnets (used in electronics) to make them easier to recycle.
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My research focuses on magnets that are used in electronic devices an electric vehicles. It is important to recycle these because they contain valuable materials. To protect these magnets from damage they are often coated in a material called epoxy resin, which is a polymer (commonly called ‘plastic’). This coating is very tough and resistant which makes it very difficult to remove for recycling. That’s my challenge! I am look at chemical ways to break down the coating material without causing too much damage to the magnetic material. Feel free to ask me more about this!
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My Typical Day:
I start my day with a cup of tea and some toast. Then I take the bus to university for about 9am. Each day looks very different for me, but can include science experiments, reading scientific papers, writing about my scientific, and analysing my data.
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When I get to university, I get settled in the office, have a chat to some work friends and have a coffee. If I have experiments planned, then I’ll go to the laboratory, but if not, I’ll stay at my desk and work on writing about my previous experiments, looking at what my results show and working to understand them. I also read a lot of scientific papers which other scientists have written about their work, to help me learn more about what I’m doing.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use the prize money to start a Materials Science magazine for school students, to help raise awareness of the subject and promote careers in STEM for people from diverse backgrounds. It would be a digital magazine (maybe with some opportunity to print for accessibility) published once a quarter. Articles in it would be themed in question categories: ‘How does it work?’ (e.g. a vehicle motor), ‘What is it made of?’ (e.g. a wind turbine), ‘How is it made?’ (e.g. clingfilm), ‘What do you do?/What’s your challenge?’ (e.g. interviews with materials scientists), ‘Where does it come from?’ (e.g. metal mining from ores) etc.
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Education:
Aylesbury High School
(2010-2017)
University of Birmingham
(2017-2021)
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University of Birmingham
(2023-present)
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Qualifications:
GCSEs:
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Additional Maths, English Literature, English Language, French, Religious Studies, Dance, Food Technology, Thinking & Reasoning Skills, Citizenship
AS Levels:
Government & Politics, French
A Levels:
Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry
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Work History:
Independent Maths Tutor
(2015 – 2017)
Primary School Breakfast Club Assistant
(2016 – 2017)
Waitress & Bar Staff
(Jun 2018 – Sep 2018)
Research internship at University of Birmingham
(Jun 2019 – Aug 2019)
Commercial Banking Internship at HSBC UK
(Aug 2020 – Sep 2020)
Commercial Banking Graduate Scheme at HSBC UK
(Jul 2021 – Jul 2023)
PhD research student at University of Birmingham
(Oct 2023 – present)
Post-Graduate Teaching Assistant at University of Birmingham
(Nov 2023 – present)
Visiting Scholar Research Placement at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, US
(Sep 2024 – Dec 2024)
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Current Job:
Materials Science PhD student and teaching assistant
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Employer:
University of Birmingham
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Materials sustainability enthusiast
What did you want to be after you left school?
No idea! I'm still working that one out…
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No! I was very well behaved and focussed on my studies
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would work for an engineering company working on sustainable materials
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Sammy Rae & The Friends (check them out if you've never heard of them!)
What's your favourite food?
Peanut butter
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To live by the sea, to be magically fluent in every language, to visit every country in the world
Tell us a joke.
How do you organize a party in space? You planet…
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