Grace Newman
Current student
- Course
- Automotive Engineering MEng
- Subject area
- Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
I chose to study at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ because it offered me everything I could want from a university. I’d known for a while I wanted to pursue a career in motorsport engineering, and wanted a course that would allow me to specialise in automotive and motorsport from first year, which is a unique aspect to the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ degree. Before uni, I’d been on work experience with McLaren, Mercedes, Cosworth and JLR, and met a lot of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ alumni there who’d achieved amazing jobs and recommended the course to me. The modules, links with industry, Formula Student team and reputation were big draws for me. But also just the atmosphere of the university, the Lboro Family felt really welcoming - I love the sports culture, campus and it just felt right for me.
My course so far
The course has been really great so far, but a definite highlight was ‘Build Week’. For our second semester group project, we had to design, build, and test a small autonomous car to complete a series of challenges.
I’ve found the teaching quality, facilities and general student support great. The lecturers deliver content in a way that’s engaging, easy to understand, and apply it to vehicles which helps to see the context and importance of what you learn. And to then take your learning further in the labs, machine shops, dynos, wind tunnel, has been a good way for me to build confidence in using those machines. With a challenging course, it’s natural to need support, and the university team have always been there to help!
My student experience at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
There’s so much to get involved in. Everything from trying different sports, joining societies like book club and Women's Engineering Society (WES), celebrating the end of exams at my hall’s Hall Day, the Engineering Ball, volunteering at an alpaca farm, it’s been so varied!
In terms of academics, my highlights have been working on simulation with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Motorsport (Formula Student), joining the WES committee, there’s been so many opportunities. It’s been great to meet so many friends, some of my favourite moments are just the coffees and dinners I’ve had with my flatmates and course friends.
I am currently the Professional Liasion for WES, where I arrange professional events with industry. WES has been a great community to be part of, and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ really champions women in STEM. The combination of professional development opportunities like visiting conferences, and networking dinners, and socials with other female engineers at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been really beneficial, and is something very important to me.
My career
My career ambition is to work as a motorsport engineer in vehicle dynamics and vehicle performance, the ultimate goal being to be on that pit-wall as a race/performance engineer or technical leader. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been really great at supporting this – a lot of Formula One teams have visited the campus, which has given me the opportunity to understand what I can work on to become a valued member of their teams.
The course itself I feel will give me a strong combination of theory and applied learnings, and the extra-curricular opportunities such as panel talks, CV drop-ins, workshops and Formula Student give me a range of ways to improve my technical and soft skills.
My greatest achievement during my first time at University would be securing my first jobs in motorsport (student ambassador for Extreme E, and a summer placement with Cosworth.) Going from a few years ago thinking the industry was out of reach, to seeing my work translate into early career positions, makes me really proud. And then to see that being recognised, winning the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Female Undergraduate Engineer of the Year Award in my first year of studies, and being awarded an Engineering Leaders Scholarship by the Royal Academy of Engineering, gives me so much motivation and continued enthusiasm for what I can achieve.