James Mason MPhil, 2008

Senior Analog Design Engineer, Semtech

“I decided to return to university after working for more than 20 years in electronic engineering because I was becoming increasingly interested in electrochemistry. Professor John Owen accepted me to study with his team in his laboratory and I completed the MPhil on a part-time basis over five years. At first, I studied evenings and weekends but eventually took some time off from my job at IBM to finish all the laboratory work before writing up my results.

I decided to return to university after working for more than 20 years in electronic engineering because I was becoming increasingly interested in electrochemistry. Professor John Owen accepted me to study with his team in his laboratory and I completed the MPhil on a part-time basis over five years

“At Southampton, I was researching a new type of dye sensitised photovoltaic solar cell using facilities in both the Chemistry and Engineering departments. Then I decided to continue my interest in sustainable energy by taking a postgraduate certificate in Antarctic studies at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, focusing on its role in polar research stations. I also took a PhD at Oxford Brookes University and now work as a Senior Analog Design Engineer at Semtech.

“I look back at my time at Southampton with pleasure and enjoy going back to meet students at careers events to give them an idea of what career opportunities are open for people with chemistry degrees.”