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Meet our new researchers from the Department of Engineering

Our interview series introduces new researchers who started this academic year in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences.

We chatted to three academics from the Department of Engineering, Dr Grazia Todeschini, Dr Mark Ainslie, and Dr Naseem Ramli about their research, what inspired them to become an engineer, and their life outside of King's. 

Grazia

Dr Grazia Todeschini is a Reader in Engineering. Her research focuses on solving the challenges related to the integration of power electronics devices in transmission and distribution systems, focusing on power quality issues.

She has professional experience in addition to her academic accolades, and is also active in public engagement activities, with the aim of promoting STEM subjects amongst under-represented groups.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about engineering? 

Although this may seem surprising in 2023, many people still think that engineering is a profession only for males. And this is true not only for the older generations, but also for the youngest. This misconception, however, seems to be slowly changing, and I can see more female engineers in both academia and industry, compared to few years ago. 

Is there an engineer in history, or today, who is your biggest inspiration/role model? And why? 

Edith Clarke (1883-1959) is my biggest role model. She was ‘the first’ in many accomplishments, including: the first woman to be professionally employed as an electrical engineer in the United States, the first female Professor of Electrical Engineering in the country, the first woman to present a paper at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the first woman named as a Fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. I have been gifted the second edition of her textbook Circuit analysis of A-C power systems and this is a treasure as well as a source of inspiration. 

Engineering at King’s is inherently multidisciplinary. Can you give an example of a project you've worked on where working across disciplines was key to its success? 

My main area of research is power system engineering, which is a branch of electrical engineering. A few years ago, I worked on a project that involved oceanographers, mechanical engineers and industrial partners. The idea behind the project was to assess the potential of tidal energy to contribute to UK Net Zero targets and identify the most suitable sites for this technology. The research findings have been published and this work became very quickly my most quoted paper. 

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering? 

My advice is to take every opportunity to learn something new, as engineering is a rapidly changing field, and therefore a good engineer needs to have a large number of skills to develop and adapt to the professional landscape. At the same time, I also suggest identifying one topic where they want to become an expert. For example by choosing wisely the student's final-year project, or working as an intern during their studies. This will help them stand out. 

Aside from engineering, what do you do in your spare time? 

I like to start my day with some type of sport or activity such as running, riding my bike or yoga, and to end my day with a book. I also like to walk when possible as I think this is a very relaxing activity and that helps me to organise my thoughts.

Mark Ainslie

Dr Mark Ainslie is a Lecturer in Engineering. His research covers a broad range of aspects of applied superconductivity - materials that conduct direct current electricity without energy loss when cooled below a critical temperature. He's primarily focused on solving technical challenges related to high-field magnets, superconducting electric machines and other superconducting power applications.

His research brings together state-of-the-art materials and applied research, from fundamental materials science to numerical modelling to application design/testing.

What first attracted you to the field of engineering? 

I have always been interested in the sciences – in particular, physics, as a way of explaining the world around us. From a young age, I also had an interest in and talent for maths. Engineering is the application of maths and physics to solve real-world problems and this sense of ‘being useful’ brings additional motivation and satisfaction.

As a young adult, I felt a sense of awe when learning about large-scale engineering projects: bringing together different technical abilities and talents to solve a problem, and the results can be spectacular. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about engineering? 

I think one misconception is that the work of an engineer is not creative or that our work is boring. As a researcher in engineering, we are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and developing technology that may not actually be seen for several years or even decades. While we must think logically and critically, with an attention to detail, there is often a lot of creative and abstract thinking needed to solve the problems we’re faced with.

Personally speaking, my friends and family assume that because I’m an engineer I’m more practical than I actually am. Having specialised in electrical engineering, I’m often asked “can you wire up this up for me?” or to install a new electrical socket. I fear I might actually put them in a worse position for me having attempted to do so!

Engineering at King’s is inherently multidisciplinary. Can you give an example of a project you worked on, where working across disciplines was key to its success? 

I’m fortunate to work in the research field of applied superconductivity, which is highly multidisciplinary by nature. Superconductors must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures for them to exhibit their remarkable material properties, and the physics behind these properties is complex. So successful projects arise from bringing together a range of researchers – materials scientists, physicists and engineers – across a broad range of areas – electrical, mechanical, thermodynamics, cryogenics and so on.

One example of a very successful project I was involved in, while a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, was the achievement of the Guinness World Record for the strongest magnetic field trapped in a superconductor. In collaboration with experts from the National High Magnetic Field Lab in the US and from Boeing (our industrial partner), we managed to overcome an issue with the brittle, mechanical nature of our superconductors that was causing catastrophic failure of our samples when we tried to magnetise them with very high magnetic fields. 

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering? 

If you have a flair for maths and physics, but also want to make a useful, practical contribution to the world around you, an engineering career is an excellent option. For engineering studies, it is really important to have a solid background in maths and physics.

General engineering courses, like ours at King’s, are a great place to start if you’re unsure about any particular specialism you’re interested in. Engineering courses not only teach you many useful technical concepts and skills, they teach you other ‘soft’ skills, like time and project management, communication (written and verbal), teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, attention to detail and creativity. These skills are all highly valued by employers.

Aside from engineering, what do you do in your spare time? 

One big passion I have is the Japanese language and culture. In my spare time, I watch Japanese TV shows and movies, and love to eat and cook Japanese food.

I studied Japanese during my undergraduate degree, and was fortunate to receive a Japanese government scholarship to do a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tokyo and lived in Tokyo for almost three years. These experiences were amazing, and shaped me as the person I am today. 

I also love travelling, eating and drinking nice things (I have an extensive wine and whisky collection at home.) As well as reading (although I purchase more books than I actually read)!

Naseem

Dr Naseem Ramli is a Lecturer in Engineering Education with a PhD in Computing and Electronic Systems. She teaches and designs electronic and electrical engineering modules. Naseem has won multiple awards for her academic achievements and teaching, including the University of Essex Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.

She was a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate from 2017-2019, where she designed and prototyped a drone sensor device for solar farms. She also developed an image processing algorithm that segments individual solar panels from both thermal and visible images.

What first attracted you to the field of engineering?

My interest in engineering started from a very early age. My father is a civil engineer by profession. He is my inspiration for choosing engineering as a path for my career. During my time at secondary school, I studied mathematics, physics, computer science and electric circuit. These gave me a strong foundation and the fundamentals in electronic engineering. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about engineering?

The biggest misconception people have about engineering, in particular electronics, is that it is not for women. It is true that the engineering sector is a male dominated environment, however the number of women in engineering continues to grow.

Engineering at King’s is inherently multidisciplinary. Can you give an example of a project you worked on, where working across disciplines was key to its success

In 2017, I led a collaborative research project between the University of Essex and Above Ltd to take the company existing drone technology to the next technological level to bring sophisticated, accurate and automated monitoring to Europe's booming solar farms. I designed and prototyped a drone sensor device that gathers data from various sensors. This product was manufactured and operationalised in early 2019.

I also developed an image processing algorithm that segments individual solar panels from both thermal and visible images. The project did not just focus on developing new technology but also ethics, big data, transfer knowledge, sustainability, manufacturing process, and renewable energy. 

My current research focuses on embedding inclusive teaching and learning into the design of practical engineering classes, bringing knowledge about STEM education, practical classes, disabilities in high education, technology and ethics.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering?

Engineering is a fascinating field specially to those who enjoy problem solving, innovation and being creative. Not only provides you with employability skills, but also offers great opportunities.

Aside from engineering, what do you do in your spare time?

I have young children so lots of family times, and watching kids play football. I also enjoy gardening.

In this story

Grazia Todeschini

Grazia Todeschini

Reader in Engineering

Mark Ainslie

Mark Ainslie

Lecturer in Engineering

Naseem Ramli

Naseem Ramli

Lecturer in Engineering Education

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