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Julia
Evans, (above), Chemistry, Oxford. PhD in Catalysis,
Reading. Joined the Technology Centre in 1995. Based
in Sonning Common, Berkshire.
'My
link with Johnson Matthey was forged when they sponsored
my three-month post doctoral. They then offered me
the job I wanted, in the field I wanted. I am pleased
to work on something that is good for the environment.
Pollution control is extremely relevant to all of us.
I
started on a project in automotive catalysis design
that allowed me to use the technical skills I'd developed
during my PhD in a business environment.
After
about a year I had the opportunity to change direction
and develop computer models to predict how a catalyst
would run on a car. This enabled more catalyst configurations
to be tested by the computer rather than in expensive
real-life engine testing and thus enabled large savings
for the business. I had daily contact with various
sites throughout Johnson Matthey and worked directly
with their customers in Japan and the USA implementing
the project.
In
1999 I had to opportunity to move into a completely new technology
area, and join the newly formed Fuel Cells Business Unit.
Within this fledging industry, products are being developed
in extremely close collaborations between supplier and customer,
in order to keep up with the breath-taking pace of change
in the technology. The skills I had developed working with
customers became valuable as I began to manage key collaborative
technical projects in new areas.
As
the Fuel Cell business has matured, my job has gradually moved
away from the technical and towards the commercial side, such
that I am now formally part of the Commercial Development
group. This involves regular travelling to meet existing customers
and suppliers, and to assess potential new ones. Along the
way, I have (and still am) enjoying many new experiences and
challenges.
In
summary, I have never stayed in one job at Johnson Matthey
for long, so my work has never become stale or dull. There
are a great many opportunities within the group to move
around the business units and try new things. Everyone
is open and friendly at every level within the organisation
- there will be no barriers to doing the job you want to
do. ' |
