Profile

Photo:

Oriol Roche

    • About Me:

      I’ve lived in London for more than 10 years, although I’m originally from sunny Barcelona in Spain. I love films (especially horror!), books (my current favourite is “Dune”) and birdwatching.

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      While I was in school I loved science, but the arts and humanities were a big passion as well. So now I try to do as much of both as possible! I write a blog for my friends, and I read as much as I can. I’m part of 2 different book clubs! I’ve also recently started birdwatching a lot: I love it, it’s a great way to stay in touch with nature.

    • My pronouns are:

      he/him

    • How I use Science in my work:

      I’m a researcher. In my work, I use x-rays (on the high energy side of the electromagnetic spectrum) in order to see structures inside objects. My job requires understanding the Physics behind light, and a lot of programming too.

    • My Work:

      Most of my days are spent looking into some sort of small object using an x-ray microscope. I’m usually looking at very small details (roughly one thousand times smaller than a human hair!). To give you some examples, I’ve looked into cement, butterfly wings, ladybirds and pig nerves!

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      The main technique that I use at work is x-ray computed tomography (or “CT”). This is something that you may have had at the doctor’s when you’ve broken an arm. I do this in a specialised laboratory for x-rays, called a “synchrotron”. There are only a few of these in the world!

    • My Typical Day:

      For breakfast I always have a tea and porridge. Then I cycle to work (sometimes I also need to take a train). At work, I usually sit down in front of my computer and do a lot of programming to get the best results possible from previous experiments. On exciting days, I go into the lab and take some images! I cycle back home around 6 pm.

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      Usually my day involves a lot of talking to other people. On lab days, it’s always best to be surrounded by colleagues, who will make sure that you don’t make mistakes! A few minds put together are always better than one.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would invite a few students (as many as possible!) to where I work so that they could spend a day learning about it. Then, I would like to collaborate with them in order to design a 1-hour lesson on the electromagnetic spectrum and x-rays. This 1-hour lesson, developed in collaboration with people who actually know what students care about, could be taken to other schools by me or other volunteers.

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to school in Barcelona. I was really interested in science, philosophy and medicine. In my last year of high school, I had an incredible Physics teacher (shoutout to Beth!) and her classes convinced me to pursue Physics at university.

      Then I came to London to study a BSc in Physics with Medical Physics, so that I could satisfy my interest in Physics and Medicine at the same time. I enjoyed my degree but I really hated exams, they made me very anxious.

      After that, I did a PhD in x-ray physics at University College London. It was a 4-year degree and it was tough, but I had a great team and a great supervisor.

    • Qualifications:

      In Spain I got my baccalaureate (which is the equivalent of the A-levels). Then I got a BSc in Physics with Medical Physics. Finally, I got a PhD (which is sometimes called a “doctorate in Philosophy”).

    • Work History:

      During my university degree I worked for a few years doing sexual health consultations and tests around London. We would go to different locations and offer quick and easy tests for anyone who wanted them. During my PhD I also worked as a teaching assistant at university. After the PhD I worked in a technical position at the laboratory; I was basically dealing with different people who needed x-ray images for a variety of reasons, and doing the experiments for them.

    • Current Job:

      Currently, I’m a post-doctoral research associate (usually just called “post-doc”). This means I’m continuing my research career (or “academic” career). Half of my time is dedicated to helping out at the laboratory in the synchrotron, and my other half is dedicated to pursuing my own research goals.

    • Employer:

      I work at the Diamond Light Source, a research institution which is part of the Harwell campus, a science campus in Oxfordshire.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        birdwatching xray nerd

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        a novel writer

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        not really... I was too scared!

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        palaeontology!

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Björk and Rosalía

        What's your favourite food?

        tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette)

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        (1) an extra hour to the day, every day, (2) all bird names and songs in my brain automatically, (3) a bigger garden