Chelsea Williams (Physics BSc, 2018) is the co-founder and CTO of Mater-AI, a material science company applying AI and physics-based modelling to accelerate the discovery of thermoelectric materials.

How did King's experience prepare you for your career?

My time at King’s was instrumental in helping me launch my career. One of the main things I did during my time here, beyond my degree, was getting involved in the King’s Experience Awards. I took part in a range of workshops and skill-building activities to help me build my CV and learn key employability skills, which ultimately helped me land a series of internships.

Give us one highlight from your time at King's?

One of the biggest highlights from my time at King’s was receiving the Gordon Rogers Scholarship. This is a scholarship awarded to the top five academically performing students at the end of the second year.

The scholarship came out of the blue. I didn’t even know it existed, so it was a wonderful surprise and gave me a confidence boost, especially given that I struggled in my first year and definitely felt like an imposter. It was a really great opportunity for me to feel good about myself and gave me the confidence I needed to continue with my studies.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?

I’d say one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career so far is deciding which career path to pursue. Having a background in STEM unlocks a lot of opportunities, and there are so many different job roles out there that I’d love to be a part of, but it’s just not possible. I’ve had a great opportunity to do a range of internships in various industries.

I’d say the way I’ve overcome this is by trying to find a role that gives me the most diversity. I feel like starting my own company is a great way of doing that. I get to work on the technical problem-solving side, get involved in the science and the physics, and also concentrate on the business strategy and commercialisation.

What advice would you give to current students?

Be proactive from day one. A lot of people start their undergraduate degrees with a blank sheet of paper for their CV, and being at King’s – and at university in general – is a really good opportunity to start building your skillset and launching your career. From volunteering to taking part in awards and being part of societies, it’s a great opportunity to develop employability skills and secure internship offers that are vital for launching your career.

To stay in touch with your alumni community, make sure to sign up for King’s Connect. It provides the most effective way for you to connect with King’s alumni, as well as presenting opportunities to boost your career through mentoring. Sign up today at kingsconnect.org.uk .