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Maria McKiel (MASc candidate)

Main page: /eptl/people/maria-mckiel/

When I first decided on studying engineering, my goal was to aid in the fight against climate change and develop methods of reducing the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. That goal has not changed in the over ten years since I made that decision, it has only become more focused on energy generation and the revolution required in that industry.

Through my undergraduate degree in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering (�Ӱ�ԭ�� University 2024), I discovered an interest in combustion and the use of metal for green energy by joining the Powdered Metal Reactor (PMR) team. This project allowed me to explore the role of combustion and its crucial role in the transition to cleaner energy. I also found an interest in laboratory work and research. Having begun my university career in the height of the pandemic, I missed the opportunity to perform many hands-on experiments during my undergraduate degree. PMR and the work done to successful build �Ӱ�ԭ�� University’s first metal powder reactor is the reason I joined the Energy and Particle Technology Laboratory (EPTL). I am looking forward to all I will learn from my time here and where this role will bring me in the future.

In 2024, in line with my overarching goal of aiding the environment, I started the development of novel fiber sensors for environmental monitoring, a joint effort between the EPTL and the APClab.