Sairah Qureshi: How I became a materials engineer

I loved the idea of understanding how materials work; their microstructures and properties provide a clear understanding of the applications they are most suited to.

Why did you end up working in your field? Tell us about your career path.

I have a core interest in maths and physics, so I studied biomedical engineering for my undergraduate degree. Once I knew that pursuing a career in biomaterials was a route I’d enjoy, I chose to study materials science and engineering for my master’s degree.

I loved the idea of understanding how materials work; their microstructures and properties provide a clear understanding of the applications they are most suited to.

What attracted you to work at Mott MacDonald?

I came across Mott MacDonald at a science careers fair at university. I loved the type of work that they had described in the civil engineering industry; working on bridges, dams and preparing reports about the behaviour of the materials used in these applications.

What has been your favourite project to work on and why?

My favourite project so far has been a boiler house inspection that I worked on recently. I carried out a visual inspection of a boiler house where I inspected the ceiling and ground for defects. The best part about this inspection was that I carried out chloride testing for the first time.

It was hands-on work and I was able to see the practical side of the theory I learned during my studies. At university, I gained a basic understanding of how corrosion can be detected through chloride sampling. During this project, I got to experience the process and understand how the concentration levels can inform whether the corrosion is serious or not.

Looking back on your career so far, is there anything you would do differently?

I would advise myself to ask more questions. At times, I would shy away from asking questions during lectures and within school settings, because I thought my questions were silly. I’ve learned there are no silly questions and I’ll gain more knowledge by asking the questions that come to mind.

What advice would you give to people starting careers in the industry?

Be proactive. When there’s a project, volunteer, and support team members by asking whether they need help with bigger tasks.

It’s good to show off your soft skills at work too and paint a positive picture of yourself. Having a positive mindset will set you up to become a valuable member of the team.

Searching for hands-on career opportunities that will help us overcome the challenges of tomorrow? Find available job openings.

If you’d like to find out more about the work Sairah and her team do, listen to our podcast episode: Saving structures with cathodic protection.