Future scientists and engineers impress during research student work placement

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The Jaguar Land Rover research team based at WMG Campus has given a group of students hands-on experience in the field of scientific research.

The Nuffield Research Placement programme helps sixth form students develop their skills and confidence in quantitative and scientific methods.

The six students, from disadvantaged backgrounds, were set real world business STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) challenges. These ranged from battery testing to 3D printing of brake prototypes for Jaguar Vector Racing through to the creation of smart cabin features and autonomous cars.

Each student was mentored by a Jaguar Land Rover colleague and spent six weeks working on their project. The placements concluded with the students presenting their work to their mentors and managers, with some submitting their projects for the British Science Association’s CREST awards.

All students agreed the placement has helped improve their confidence, teamworking skills and gave them a valuable insight into future career opportunities. Student Tom Ridgway spent his placement with the Advanced Battery Engineering team, testing the electrical resistance of metal welded components. He said: “I learnt how to communicate effectively and enjoyed working on prominent research projects. I now plan to apply for the degree apprenticeship programme."

Cenk Balu worked with the Research team, and added: "I investigated radar configurations and created code which can calculate the distance of target from radar in the far-field.

“It was very interesting and I enjoyed the idea of working on an innovative project that colleagues could develop further. The placement has confirmed my plans to study engineering at university after which I'll consider Jaguar Land Rover's graduate programme.

Jim Johnson, Innovation Acceleration Team Manager and Nuffield project lead, said the students gain an insight into a wide variety of STEM careers by working alongside our researches, which we hope will encourage them to become future scientists and engineers.

He added: “The students have tackled real business issues and some of their contributions will be carried forward, which shows how well they performed. We’ve developed our teaching and mentoring skills too and it’s been good giving something back to the local community and inspiring others with our passion for STEM. As many of the students are from deprived backgrounds, these experiences can be truly life-changing.”