Tihana Stefanic

While it was an inevitable consequence of Covid, my greatest regret is not becoming more proactive before my fourth year. It was the year in which I became a class representative, joined three societies, attended sports and dance classes, and played in a student orchestra while managing my most intense workload to date, that amounted to my best and most fulfilling year by far.

One thing I think is not mentioned enough about university is that it is normal not knowing what you want to do after finishing your degree. For many students, this becomes clearer with time throughout university; in my case however, the degree exposed me to so many branches of chemistry I never knew existed, that I was overwhelmed with options. One thing I was certain of, was that I wanted to have industrial experience before pursuing a PhD. Thanks to the School of Chemistry’s integrated master’s programme, this opportunity was made possible in my fifth year, and the industrial experience also helped me discover my next steps.

The skills, education, and opportunities that this university offered me have set me up for the career path I aspire to, and their impact cannot be understated. 

Your Experiences Since Leaving the University

After leaving Edinburgh for my year-in-industry, I worked at the UK’s national synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, on soft X-ray crystallography at Beamline I23. It was here that I developed transferable skills and knowledge at a world-leading scientific facility that allowed me to stand out as a prospective PhD candidate. While my placement focused on analytical absorption techniques for improving long-wavelength diffraction data, the impressive battery research at Diamond Light Source inspired me to go into the direction of energy engineering. After finally receiving my degree in Chemical Physics last year, I found my place in the Battery Intelligence Lab at the University of Oxford.

In my current PhD at Oxford Engineering, I am working on battery modelling and performance testing in a project associated with the Faraday Institution, where I can continue my interests in physics, chemistry, and energy engineering. Being part of the Faraday Institution’s training programme has made the first few months of my PhD an overwhelmingly positive experience, involving travel around the UK to training schools, workshops, industry tours, and conferences.

The goal of my project is to develop safer battery technology and to contribute to sustainable energy solutions through the investigation of thermo-mechanical electrochemical coupling behaviour in large Lithium-ion cells. I have loved the first 3 months here and am looking forward seeing the direction that this project takes. I can confidently say it is thanks to my interdisciplinary degree from Edinburgh, in combination with my industrial placement, that I have been able to pursue this project.

Alumni Wisdom

My advice to anyone pursuing their degree here would be to take every opportunity to engage with the incredible community at Edinburgh, explore the city, and make use of the support groups, societies, and beautiful scenery that the university has to offer. Make sure to give yourself the time and freedom to do the things you enjoy, whether it’s a part of your degree or an extracurricular hobby. And do not wait to get involved – these experiences could be once in a lifetime, and they will pass by before you know it. The University of Edinburgh is an incredible place – enjoy it!