Astrid Barker-Smith

After graduating from the University of Sheffield in the summer of 2023 with a BEng in Materials Science and Engineering, I went to work for British Glass in Chapeltown. In my work there as a glass technologist I primarily conducted chemical and physical analytical consultancy for global glass manufacturers, and batching and melting new glass compositions for research contracts. This continued from my specialisation in glass as an undergrad, where my dissertation studied the properties of glass hypothetically sourced from Martian soil. 

I soon realised that I missed the learning opportunities, scientific communication, and social aspects of education, and so joined the MBCE department in spring 2024. As an assistant engineering technician, I hover around the materials lab, helping set up equipment and making samples, supporting the teaching staff and students. 

Beyond my interests in engineering and education, I have worked at a variety of film festivals as a projectionist or in film programming, and you can often find me in the cinema outside work. I am also keen when it comes to music, having taught myself to play the accordion, and recently picked up the harmonica.