Profile
Nik Watson
My CV
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Education:
DeAston School, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. North lincolnshire College. University of Hull, University of Leeds
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Qualifications:
PhD (Process engineering) MEng (mechanical engineering), A levels, GCSE’s
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Work History:
Ive made windows, Managed bars and night clubs, done lots of decorating and labouring and still DJ quite a bit
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Current Job:
Research Fellow (It means i work in a lab)
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A did a degree and PhD in engineering and somehow ended up working in a food science department.
My research is split into two areas:
1) Using acoustics and ultrasound (sound waves) to study lots of of food and non food liquids and solids. Examples include: Measuring bubbles in chocolate bars, Scanning bacon to find out what the pig was eating, understanding what happens to fuel in your cars at low temperatures and understanding whats really happening in fake tan.
2) Using computers to make models which can perform virtual experiments to help understand lots of problems faced by the food industry. Examples of this include: How can we make microwave food more crispy and how can we optimise the size and shape of food so it cooks faster.
Im very lucky as my research is funded by lots of big multi national food companies so im always travelling around and meeting lots of interesting and exciting people from all over the world.
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My Typical Day:
impossible, every day is different, which is one of my favourite things about being a scientist.
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Its a really tough one as every day is different, the only typical thing is that it starts with a coffee. Things I do over a week include:
Experiments in the lab
Meetings around uni or at companies
Data analysis
Lecturing
Supervising project students
Writing proposals
Helping out with open days
Doing lots of taste panels (often not as great as is sounds)
Marking exams and reports
Replying to emails
Writing papers and presentations
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Use it to help our School of Food Science get more young people involved with science and what we do.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
genius magnificent modest
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Only when i got caught.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
guns n roses
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
a pet crocodile and my own pirate ship.
Tell us a joke.
a lorry load of terrapins crashed into a lorry load of tortoises…………….it was a turtle disaster!!! :D :D :D
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