Profile
Gabriel Pérez
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About Me:
I am a Mexican living in Sheffield with my wife. I work as a materials researcher and enjoy doing so! I also enjoy football, video games, philosophy, and playing the guitar at my local church.
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I was born and raised in Mexico and came to the UK to become a scientist. During this adventure I met and married my lovely wife Sonia.
I have always been very curious and fascinated by science – all sorts of science! Part of my love for it is the satisfaction of understanding how things work. However, at some point in my life, I realised that whilst science is a great at telling us how to do things, it can’t tell us why we should (or should not) do them. That is when I became very interested in philosophy and religion and now I use my faith and science to do my best at living a good life.
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My Work:
My job is to find out how atoms and molecules arrange with each other to form things.
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Have you ever wondered how atoms and molecules arrange with each other to form things? Well, me too! That is why I became a crystallographer. My job is to answer that question for different materials. The coolest thing about this is that I get to use x-ray and neutron beams at work. At the moment I am investigating new battery materials to help us develop more powerful batteries with charges that last longer (I’m fed up of getting that ‘15% remaining’ battery alert on my mobile phone!).
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My Typical Day:
One of the great things about the work that I do is that there is no typical day! However, I try to stick to a routine when possible which is essential for good mental health.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d buy the materials needed to do the 5 coolest chemistry and physics experiments and give a demonstration at the school in the poorest area in South Yorkshire.
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Education
Universidad de las Americas Puebla (Mexico)
Appalachian State University (USA)
University of Sheffield (UK)
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Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering
Masters degree in Energy Science and Renewable Energy
PhD in Chemical Engineering
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Work History
My first job was in the construction industry as an apprentice engineer, nothing to do with what I do now! Then I taught some Civil Engineering modules to undergraduates at a couple of Universities in Mexico. I loved it, but my employers said that without a PhD I could only be part-time. Well, that was enough motivation to get me to do one! So I came to Sheffield to get my PhD where I continued teaching to and supervising undergraduate and masters degree students part-time. After I finished my PhD I got my current job.
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Current Job
I am a researcher at the UK’s neutron source where I develop new methodologies for the study of new cathode materials for lithium batteries.
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Employer
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Professional question asker
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
Curiosity
What was your favourite subject at school?
History
What did you want to be after you left school?
Civil engineer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes, more times than what I can remember!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Teaching anything that I know to be true or factually correct
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Band: Scorpions, Singer: Michael Jackson
What's your favourite food?
Enchiladas, but Pizza comes close
What is the most fun thing you've done?
I went to a national Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament with my friends when I was 16. I got to the semifinals, won a special edition of one of the first generation IPods as a prize, and saw my friend won the tournament. It was awesome!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To stay healthy, to become wealthy, and to use all of my remaining time in this life to be outrageously generous.
Tell us a joke.
A neutron walks into a bar and asks "how much for a beer?" The bartender says, "for you? no charge
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My profile link:
https://ias.im/u.298532
My Comments