Here, in our series on the latest EW BrightSparks of 2022, we highlight Amy Suddards, a PhD student in radio astronomy technologies at the University of Manchester.
Achievement
Her nominator told us about Amy’s commitment to electronics, as well as her dedication to outreach, sustainable electronics, and the principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
In terms of her academic work, Amy has come to microwave engineering from an astrophysics undergraduate background. She chose, during the Coronavirus pandemic, to pursue a research-based MPhil postgraduate degree as part of the Advanced Radio Instrumentation Group at the University of Manchester. She was aiming to build, from-scratch, a knowledge and skillset focussing on microwave electronics for radio astronomy applications.
She has recently completed her MPhil project titled “Optimising the Performance of Wideband Low Noise Amplifiers for Radio Astronomy Applications”. This involved the development of high frequency waveguide-to-microstrip transition designs for use alongside state-of-the-art Indium Phosphide MMIC based low nosie amplifier (LNA) chips, as well a novel Gallium Arsenide K-band (26 – 36 GHz) LNA design using a commercial process suitable for high volume applications while maintaining appropriately low noise performance.
The EW BrightSparks judges learned that beginning an MPhil degree in an entirely new subject during a pandemic was not at all easy, with all meetings happening remotely and lab access heavily restricted by University guidelines.
Amy, however, has been determined to immerse herself in her research, quickly grasping high-frequency electronics design and testing techniques. She has used a range of design and simulation software for her technical modelling work, including Ansoft HFSS, ADS, and Python for programming.
As well as creating original designs for optimal LNA performance, she has also developed detailed models for both past and new designs to be compared with measurement.
Notably, Amy was recently invited to present her design and model improvement work to the millimetre wave group at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Harwell due to collaborative involvement in manufacturing the project designs.
As well as design work, Amy has been a key member of the team working in the lab to test and characterise LNAs and ancillary components. For example, she has been working independently with both cryogenic and room temperature testing systems to deliver accurate measurements in line with project deadlines. She has also contributed to the development of a general automated testing code via a graphical user interface which is due to be made open access in the near future.
As well as technical work both in simulations and in the lab, Amy also has an interest in improving sustainable practices in the group, her nominator told us.
“This year she has begun independently investigating our supply chains, lab procedures, and waste management strategy. This has included exploring alternative foundry and supplier choices, focusing on reducing supply chain miles through considering local foundries and the benefits and drawbacks of this. She is also analysing the sustainable practices of certain foundries to determine a list of criteria necessary to be deemed ‘sustainable’.”
“Amy is interested in the environmental implications of utilising state-of-the-art semiconductor materials. In particular, she will focus on the sustainability differences between InP and GaAs, especially novel GaAs mHEMTs.”
Lastly, she is also working to put together an innovative strategy for dealing with waste amplifying chips that do not meet stringent radio astronomy specifications.
This will include repurposing some chips for outreach and community engagement, and potentially the development of basic radio receivers to be provided to schools. She has been working closely with the University Sustainability Team to develop a full report on the group’s sustainability choices and an action plan for the future.
Her nominator concluded, admirably:
“In summary Amy is a talented, collegiate young engineer who is not only inspiring herself but also inspires the next generation of talented, diverse engineers for the cutting edge projects of the future.”
Community
Throughout her STEM career, we learned, Amy has dedicated a large amount of time and enthusiasm to outreach, community engagement, and EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion).
For example, Amy has been awarded the inaugural EDI scholarship from the University of Manchester as full funding for her PhD following her commitment to furthering these principles within STEM and from meeting a range of specified criteria.
Notably, Amy has pioneered the “EquiTea” initiative within the university department. This is a monthly forum that meets to discuss equality, diversity, and inclusion topics centred around science and technology. It involves reaching out to internal and external speakers to present at the group, running and managing a committee of people, and mediating and chairing discussions within the group.
Amy initiated conversations regarding EquiTea at the end of 2020 and it is now a working group with many attendees. As well as the forum itself, she is currently building a publicly-available website with resources relating to EDI topics in STEM, engaging with EDI policy within the university, and plans to host future events and talks open to the general public.
During her undergraduate degree, she also organised a number of university-wide conferences to highlight women and LGBT+ scientists throughout history and within the university.
Additionally, Amy coordinated and contributed to annual science fairs, festivals, and open days for the Fife local community, including several outreach visits to local schools. And during her postgraduate studies at the University of Manchester, she has been elected the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics postgraduate outreach officer, which involves working on the BlueDot festival and creating science content for the University’s social media pages.
Note that she is also an active contributor to the JodCast, a monthly podcast discussing astronomy and instrumentation topics suitable for a general public audience.
Amy is also invested in mentoring – both peer mentoring and mentoring younger students. Last summer during the last months of her MPhil degree, for example, she hosted and mentored a sixth form student as part of the Nuffield Research Placement scheme.
Lastly, she had a role within a charity that raises awareness for the HPV vaccine. Amy ran the charity’s social media channels to promote engagement with worldwide vaccine issues, wrote long-form blog pieces explaining and simplifying the science behind vaccination, and conducting interviews with vaccine scientists and medical policy makers to work into journal pieces.
She is pictured above receiving her award from Isabella Mascarenhas (VP, Grass Roots & Shining Stars, RS Group), one of the EW BrightSparks judges, and Richard Watts (emap MD, publisher of Electronics Weekly). Congratulations to Amy!
BrightSparks 2022 overview
EW BrightSparks Supporters
We are very grateful to the companies and organisations that help support the EW BrightSparks programme, and make it possible. Special thanks to: TE Connectivity and the UK Electronics Skills Foundation.
TE Connectivity
TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. We are delighted to be involved in the Bright Sparks initiative which allows TE Connectivity to learn from and inspire the next generation of engineers. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter.
UK Electronics Skills Foundation
The UKESF’s mission is to encourage more young people to study Electronics and to pursue careers in the sector. In the UK, the Electronics sector is big, valuable and growing; however, the demand for capable, employable graduates is currently outstripping supply. We are an educational charity, launched in 2010, with both public and private seed-corn funding. We operate collaboratively with major companies, leading universities and other organisations to tackle the skills shortage in the Electronics sector.
