Will FitzGerald

Materials Science & Engineering MEng graduate (1st Class Honours) with laboratory experience across materials synthesis, characterisation, and failure analysis in both industrial and emerging technologies. Skilled in operating and maintaining research instrumentation: SEM, XRD, EDX, XRF and bespoke systems. Comfortable working closely with scientists and engineers to communicate experimental results into insight.

Assistant Scientist - Nexeon Ltd

(2025-09 - 2026-03)

• Operated bench-scale CVI reactors for Si-C anode production, improving to 4x higher manufacturing throughput.
• Tuned vessel pressure, gas flow, and temperature to reduce soot formation and improve conversion rates.
• Managed daily reactor operation and readiness, supporting scale-up from R&D to commercial production.
• Reported process and material data to senior scientists, directing further investigations.

Industrial Placement - Fives Stein Ltd

(2024-05 - 2024-09)

• Investigated SiC heater element failure modes using SEM imaging and destructive testing, maintaining rigorous data capture throughout.
• Built a Python/OpenCV tool to automate defect quantification in luxury glassware production.
• Demonstrated the defect-detection tool to on-site technical teams at the factory in France.
• Coordinated with the University of Oxford and Sheffield AMRC on specialised characterisation and hydrogen gas system R&D.
• Attended a quality audit in Italy and a sales trip in Germany — exposure to international business and lab-safety practice.

MEng - Materials Science and Engineering - The University of Sheffield