Lucy student Asia (Joanna) Symonowicz (PhD in Physics) talks about her research on development of sustainable electrics
Before my PhD, I graduated with an MSc in Physics and worked as a software developer. This made me realise that I prefer basic research and would rather pursue my career in industry. I chose to do a PhD in Physics because it opens up the possibility for senior positions. Moreover, after my MSc degree I felt that my knowledge was still not sufficient to be an effective researcher.
Ultimately, I would like to make earth a more sustainable place, which is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Recycling litter, walking rather than driving, and having a vegetarian diet might not be enough. That is why the topic of my research is memristors - devices that might reduce the energy consumption in IT by up to 80%, which in turn would save up to 10% of the world’s power. I see my future in industry rather than in academia, but I would like to enhance my education first.
Like many current Lucians, upon applying I did not know that Lucy Cavendish College existed. Nevertheless, now I am very happy to be a part of this College. Lucy Cavendish is situated in a very convenient location - between a city centre and the Cavendish labs. Although it is only a 10 minute walk away from the centre, it is much less crowded and provides a nice, relaxed atmosphere. Since Lucy is a newer college and does not offer living in historical buildings, it makes up for it by having a very friendly approach to students. Our porters are the nicest in Cambridge, BOPs (big of the party) are very popular among all Cambridge students, and we were one of the few colleges to allow our students to stay during the covid pandemics. I am very happy to be here!