I have attended work experience at Barnet Hospital, worked in hospitals themselves, and attended summer schools at UCL, but none of them compare to this project. Here, you do not operate solely in a laboratory and shadow a professor; instead, it is hands-on. You get to experience what it feels like and learn and do things real scientists do, from using advanced, fragile machines, entering data and using the instruments in the laboratory, to understanding how to use them properly. You also learn how to be professional in a work environment, how to operate appropriately and how to be independent instead of watching someone and doing the same. I was able to do some rather advanced work that you would not expect from a Year 12 student. The professor gives you freedom and wants you to be hands-on instead of watching the whole time, allowing you to learn and gain additional skills, from confidence to resilience. 

 I would like to give my dearest thanks to STEMPOINT for giving me this brilliant opportunity to create such a project which allowed me to gain experiences that will directly support me in future education and work 

I enjoyed every minute of my placement, i gained invaluable skills, learned lots from my student mentor and got to experience real life research for an organisation that i never thought would be possible, at this stage in my career. 

The project has definitely helped me confirm what I want to do. I still want to study Mechatronics, but now I understand how AI fits into engineering projects. The placement showed me how AI can be applied to real-world problems with machines, and that's the type of career I'd like - combining physical engineering with technology

As a self-studying student, I often found it difficult to access research opportunities and professional support due to not having a school network. The STEM Research Programme provided exactly that opportunity and support through my placement. During this placement, I received structured guidance from an inspiring mentor, gained first-hand experience of conducting research, and developed transferable skills for my future. 

Working closely with my supervisor boosted my confidence in pursuing a career in STEM, honed my interpersonal skills, and taught me new technical skills that I know will stick throughout my future studies and career. I particularly enjoyed being able to conduct research independently while having regular meetings with my supervisor, which allowed me to experience what it would be like to work in a professional research environment. 

STEM research has shown me what I can achieve with the right encouragement and resources. It has strengthened my ambition to continue into higher education and a STEM career, and I am grateful that I was given the chance to take part. 

Thank you so much for this opportunity, it was thrilling and offered me a new perspective to the world of science!