Profile
Michael Hills
Getting into the rhythm of answering students questions!
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About Me:
I’m a Scot living near Oxford working on new and exciting Battery materials! I am an avid reader and constant music listener with a love for hill walking, canoeing and painting!
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I am originally from Falkirk (Scotland, big horse heads and wheel) but spent alot of time in Glasgow during school and for my university education. I love walking down canals and spending time on the edge of nature (no wilderness camping for me), but equally enjoy city settings and eating out with friends and family which usually results in lots of laughter and hilarity.
I’m a keen cook and regularly force experimental bakery on colleagues and friends to their joy and increased waistlines.I moved to Oxford after University and have spent my time trying to adjust to the increased temperature and making my accent understandable to locals when I order coffee.
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I work with Johnson Matthey to help develop lithium ion batteries. With experience from materials science, solid state electrolytes, cell building and synthesis I support a larger team to problem solve and produce active materials for use in, primarily, the automotive industry (cars).
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My Typical Day:
My brain doesn’t work well in the mornings so I usually sleepily wake around 7-8 am and drive to work for 9am (ish) for morning meetings or light lab work. I lunch late with a good book as company and get back into the lab to do some hard work. I tend to leave a whole day each week to look at results so stay in the lab until 5-6pm before heading home.
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I usually start work at 9 am and do some lighter tasks in the morning like admin (ordering chemicals, cleaning lab spaces) or meetings/brainstorming sessions to review work. After a cup of tea or coffee (with added conversation between colleagues which produces even more ideas) I try to crack down and get more serious work done like printing electrodes or building coin cells (just like those in a watch). Or work with the team to put on a new synthesis run which can take a couple of hours. I am usually a very clean person but my working style in the lab is quite messy so I have to spend a while cleaning up after myself in the lab or tying up loose ends from earlier in the day.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would give it to the University of Glasgow Chemistry Outreach Group (COG). -
Education:
Larbert high School, Falkirk, 2009-2015
Nuffield Research Project, Glasgow University, Summer 2014, Highschool year 4(ish)
Chemistry, Glasgow University 2015-2019, Undergraduate.
Faraday Institute, Glasgow/Strathclyde University, Summer 2018, Intern.
Heterogeneous Catalysis, Glasgow University, 2019-2020, Mres.
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Qualifications:
High School.
Highers: Maths A, English A, Physics A, Graphic Comms A, Chemistry A, Computing A, Modern Studies B.Advanced Highers: Chemistry B.
UCAS Point equivalent: 278
University.
Chemistry Undergraduate BSc (4 years): 2:2
Heterogeneous Catalysis MRes (1 year): Pass with Distinction
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Work History:
Boots, Customer Assistant, 2015-2016.
Clarks, Sales Team Member, 2016-2018.
Faraday Institute, Intern, Summer 2018.
Next, Sales Assistant, 2019-2020
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Beardy Battery Man
What did you want to be after you left school?
Scientist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Only for asking too many questions
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Foo Fighters
What's your favourite food?
Banana bread
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
New electric car, top of the line kitchenware, freeze time while reading.
Tell us a joke.
What do you get when you cross a T-Rex and a pig? Jurassic pork
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