Previous Institution
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar - Bachelor of Technology
Tell us about your educational and/or career journey since you graduated from Brunel.
After my graduation in June 2022, I got an opportunity to work with Whirlpool Corporation as a senior engineer in the materials department. Whirlpool, being a multinational company, has a presence across the globe. I currently work at the Global Technology and Engineering Centre in Pune, India and work on both global and local assignments pertaining to research and development of thermal insulation.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
At Whirlpool, I am a subject matter expert for thermal insulation, a commodity mainly used in refrigerators to make them energy efficient. The quality and quantity of thermal insulation applied in the refrigerator walls and door directly affects the amount of electricity your appliance consumes (remember star rating on your refrigerator door). My typical day involves working on projects which need insulation support, including new product introductions and cost-quality projects. I do this by creating and analysing test plans, arranging trials, and discussing with internal and external stakeholders. I also contribute to the development of technology and portfolio roadmaps for thermal insulation at Whirlpool.
What’s been the highlight of your career journey so far?
Last year (2023) in November, Whirlpool announced a new technology called Slimtech. As the name suggests, the technology makes refrigerator walls slimmer, thereby providing higher capacity with the same outer footprint. A major component of this development is powered by the new-age ultra-efficient thermal insulation on which I and my team have been working extensively. Seeing our product lauded by both internal and external partners has been a great highlight of my career journey.
How would you say your Brunel experience has helped you to get where you are today?
I was a doctoral researcher at Brunel in Dr Harjit’s lab. My research heavily focused on studying efficient thermal insulation and its applications in appliances and buildings. The research infrastructure at Brunel, including the labs at CSEF and ETC, the support to publish open-access journal articles and participation in research conferences definitely contributed to me landing a job at Whirlpool.
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
My personal reasons for choosing Brunel were that I received a full-time student scholarship from Brunel University. The scholarship was supported by an industry partner who signed a project with our lab and my PhD supervisor was the Principal Investigator. Besides, Brunel University’s location and campus were highly attractive factors for me.
What is your best memory of studying here?
I lived in the student halls and made some really good friends from across the globe. I enjoyed taking a stroll in the campus and the Quad, walking down to 1966 for coffee and Lancaster hotel for beer with my lab mates, cycling along the river Colne, going grocery shopping to Tesco and the list goes on. I had the opportunity to witness beautiful colours of fall and cherry blossoms on the campus, the crowd during exams and silence during the COVID lockdown days and I will cherish all these memories for my lifetime.
If you could give one piece of advice to current Brunel students, what would that be?
I would advise the students to strongly focus on developing new skills and polishing their talents by utilising the infrastructure at Brunel University.
What would be your top tip or key advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey after leaving Brunel?
My key advice to students graduating from Brunel and looking for jobs would be to not miss any opportunities even if it doesn’t match your expectations on the salary / job location / job role description, etc. Also, don’t close your textbooks once you get the job.
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