Profile
Luke Tuxworth
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About Me:
I live with my wife and 1 year old son in North Yorkshire. I am research scientist in a chemical company. I love hiking, motorsport and growing my own vegetables.
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I loving hiking all over the UK and last year climbed the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis, it was hard work! I’m big fan of Formula 1 motor racing and have attended the race at Silverstone in recent years. I have small vegetable patch in my garden where I grow things like carrots and courgettes.
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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My Work:
I make jet fuel for aircraft that comes from trees not oil.
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Making fuel from trees or food waste overall produces much less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and so is much better for the environment. I design catalysts, a material that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a faster rate or a lower temperature than otherwise possible this make the chemical reaction use much less energy and thus is more efficient.
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My Typical Day:
I get up at 7 am and get my young son ready for the day. I get to work at 8.30 am and plan experiments and have meetings. In the afternoon I set up experiments to run automatically overnight. I go home at 4.30 pm, eat dinner and play with my son until his bedtime.
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I work with scientists and engineers from all over the world to develop my technology thus most of my meetings are online. Its very interesting to work with a colleagues and collaborators from different cultures. I lot of my experiments are run automatically by a special robot arm that loads samples into the testing equipment one by one. This means I can can get much more done in the day as I don’t have to stand in the lab loading samples manually every 30 minutes.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Invite local schools to visit my worksite to experience what a real chemical laboratory looks like.
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Education:
I did GCSEs at King Edward VI School, Spilsby before moving to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle to complete A levels. I then moved to Durham University to do a degree and doctorate in chemistry. With each step I was specialising my area of study. I completed a doctorate (PhD) in chemistry which gave me hands on experience as s research scientist before I decided to do that as a job.
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Qualifications:
10.5 GCSEs A*-B including mathematics and English – gave me a broad base of knowledge to not close off any options later
A levels: Chemistry (A), Geography (A), Mathematics (A), Physics (A). – Chemistry and maths A levels were required for my desired university course
First class (honours) degree Chemistry – specialised knowledge in chemistry
PhD Chemistry – allowed me to learn how to be an effective scientist, conducted research in a topic relevant to my job today.
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Work History:
I worked in a clothes warehouse to help pay for my university education. I joined my current employer after leaving university 10 years ago as a junior research scientist and have been promoted twice to take on more responsibilities.
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Current Job:
Senior technical expert. I am the company expert on producing low carbon fuels and chemicals.
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Employer:
Johnson Matthey, a speciality chemical company specialising in sustainable technologies.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Fuel from trees
What did you want to be after you left school?
Scientist, but I didn't know what kind
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Nope
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Racing driver!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I sing nursery rhymes to my son
What's your favourite food?
Pizza
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To travel to USA , to be better at DIY and a big pay rise this year
Tell us a joke.
What do you call an acid with an attitude? A-mean-o Acid
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