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I\u2019ve wanted to be a physicist since I was about 9. I was very interested in space so had toyed with the idea of becoming an astronaut, but then I heard about the LHC and decided a particle physicist was much cooler. This ambition persisted to the point that several years later I persuaded my family to go on holiday to Geneva so that we could visit CERN. Once I came to university, a combination of my first-year research project and UROPs made me realise that I really love plasma physics and I want to go into experimental research. Now I\u2019m lucky enough to be starting a PhD in plasma at Imperial in October.<\/p>\n
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What would you consider the “highlights” of your undergraduate experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n Being on Imperial\u2019s University Challenge team was definitely a highlight, although a lot of stress at the time! It was refreshing to use some knowledge from outside my degree (slightly embarrassingly, I think our weakest subjects on the show ended up being the ones we were studying). It was also important to me to show that a UC team doesn\u2019t have to be four white, straight men – despite what certain twitter commentators seem to think! Diversity in a quiz team (or indeed any group) gives the advantage of a broader and more interesting\u00a0knowledge base.<\/p>\n On the academic side of things, getting experience of research from my MSci project and UROPs has been the main highlight. I have also really enjoyed the experience of being a student in London \u2013 there is so much happening, and I like the fact that I can always take a break from doing science by going to art galleries or concerts.<\/p>\n What’s your PhD project going to be focused on?<\/strong><\/p>\n My PhD project is in plasma physics. I\u2019ll be working on the MAGPIE pulsed-power generator in the basement of Blackett, focusing on X-ray driven plasma ablation experiments. As well as learning more about fundamental plasma processes, this has potential applications in, for example, inertial confinement fusion.<\/p>\n During your journey, what has your experience been being a woman in Physics?<\/strong><\/p>\n There have been some negative experiences, and I\u2019m hoping that at some point I will stop feeling like an imposter! However, during university I\u2019ve met so many talented, confident, and interesting women in physics at many different career stages, and I feel lucky to be part of this community. One especially positive moment was attending the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-Binary Physicists this year in Glasgow. I heard from physicists working in so many fascinating fields, and when you are in a minority in your subject, it is reassuring to meet other people in a similar position to you. I had been having quite a difficult time in my final year, and it reminded me why I want to study physics and why I love it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week for #WomenonWednesdays we spoke to Katie Marrow, a first-year PhD student in the Plasma Physics group and University Challenge contestant for Imperial. Describe your path into physics, what kickstarted it? I\u2019ve wanted to be a physicist since I was about 9. I was very interested in space so had toyed with the idea […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1589,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,48173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\n