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Richard Collins

    • About Me:

      I am a chemistry researcher based in London at Imperial College London. I am originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire. I went to university in Manchester then moved down South to Brighton and now a little further north to London.

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      Started my 4-year integrated Masters course at University of Manchester in 2012. graduated in 2016. Started a PhD at University of Manchester in 2016 and completed it in summer 2021. PhD was completed at the University of Sussex in Brighton, but awarded through University of Manchester. I am a keen cyclist, and a keen reader (fiction and non-fiction) and I am a big fan of cooking and learning new recipes (probably why I like chemistry!).

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      I am a research scientist working in a chemistry laboratory. My work is focussed on harnessing the inherent magnetic properties of the lanthanide metals (bottom part of the periodic table, just above uranium and things). At the moment, the highest temperature these  work as “functioning magnets” is -197 C. A “functioning magnet”  ones that can be put into a magnetic field and then keep the directional preference forced by the field at high temperatures (>100 C). The work is trying to use carbon-based structures (chemistry called “organometallic”) to try to force the magnetic properties into a system that works as a magnet.

    • My Typical Day:

      I get up and listen to BBC Radio 6 while I have breakfast of toast, yogurt and honey, apple juice and a coffee (the same breakfast every day). I then cycle to work, about 25 minutes. Once arrived, I check all equipment to make sure nothing has failed and everything is safe. After that I continue working on experiments either on the lab bench or in the glovebox. In between experiments, I will read any scientific papers to make sure I am keeping up to date with other peoples research. Work ends between 5-7pm.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      Use it to speak to low-attainment schools in West Yorkshire because I went to a state comprehensive, which usually does not do well and I would like to show them that they can too.

    My CV

    • Education:

      Rodillian High School

      Wakefield College

      University of Manchester

      University of Sussex

    • Qualifications:

      GCSE 7As (Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, D.T. Resistant Materials, English Literature, History), Bs (ICT, Business, English Language), Cs (Spanish, Music)

      AS Level  History (C)

      A Level  Physics (A) Chemistry (B) Mathematics (B)

      Degree 2:1 (Hons) MChem Chemistry

      PhD Chemistry

    • Work History:

      Sales Assistant, Next Plc (2009-2012)

      Event Coordinator, North West Wedding & Baby Fair (2013-2016)

      GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistant) University of Manchester (2017-2019)

      Doctoral Tutor, University of Sussex (2019-2021)

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Magnets, chemistry, reader

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Scientist or engineer

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        A couple of times. But my good behaviour the rest of the time showed my teachers it was a bad day.

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Public Service Broadcasting

        What's your favourite food?

        Cheese on toast

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        To have enough money to research anything I wanted, to have a pet dog, to have a process named after me

        Tell us a joke.

        Why are there no good chemistry jokes? Because the good ones Argon

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