Name of Student: Matthew Ludwig 

Job Title: Jackson-Grimes-Davies Research Intern 

Company Name: University of Exeter 

Description of Organisation:  

Exeter alumnus Dr. Mick Jackson (BSc Chemical Engineering 1979; PhD Chemical Engineering 1984) has established the Jackson-Grime-Davies Internship programme to give University of Exeter students the opportunity to gain a paid immersive research experience by designing and undertaking their own research project during their summer break. 

The internships, named after Mick, his industrial mentor at ECLP Ltd (Barry Grime) and his supervisor (Tom Davies) from his time at Exeter, last for six weeks over the summer and aim to attract the most curious minded students to nurture their passion for research. The scheme is currently open to students in Natural Sciences, and Camborne School of Mines. 

What was your biggest achievement on your internship? 

Developing a handbook documenting how to complete the types of simulations I have developed during my internship which should prove very useful in future for all researchers working in this area in Exeter. 

Were there any challenges and how did you overcome these?  

“Learning how to use an entirely new set of tools to undertake research without any guidance, because of there being a knowledge gap in this area at the university. I overcame this by consulting a variety of online resources and by learning ‘on the job’. “

What were your reasons for undertaking this internship?   

  • To gain experience and knowledge within a specific occupation or field. 
  • To improve my job prospects by expanding my CV and what I can draw upon in interviews. 
  • To earn money 

As a result of my internship:

  • I have  improved my communication, teamwork, and problem solving skills 
  • My job prospects have improved by expanding my CV and what I can draw upon in interviews
  • I have developed specific skills that could help me in the future. 
  • My overall confidence has increased