P & G Officers' experience

My PhD research work was closely related to my work at P&G.  I built machine learning predictive models with P&G data. I also worked on different optimization algorithms using these models. The goal was to make informed business decisions using these models and algorithms. Working at P&G was quite exciting and challenging, as I needed to quickly learn new things, for example new optimization techniques. In comparison with my typical PhD teaching job, this was more rewarding, and it opened my eyes to real-world business problems.

I started working part-time at the Sim Centre early 2020 whilst completing my PhD. Although the work initially started as a CFD project, my work has expanded into other areas including machine-learning and image analysis. Working for a professional company like P&G gives my work a lot more context and I am actively encouraged to develop my own research and professional skills.  I am given significant freedom and autonomy to drive my projects forward.  The work is very rewarding and I am continuing at the Sim Centre whilst finalising publications from my thesis.  I had initially joined simply to gain some experience working with industry and to help fund the final year of my PhD.  However, my engagement with the role has far exceeded expectations and I would recommend this position to any other final year PhD students as an excellent alternative to marking or teaching.

The figure is a plot from my CFD simulations looking at air entrainment

My work at P&G has given me the opportunity to expand and improve some of the technical skills I have gained during my PhD project. I have mostly worked on finite element models to inform manufacturing processes and practice. My work with P&G has given me insight into how my skill set could be useful in an industrial setting which has helped me with my future career plans. My P&G supervisor has been very helpful and supportive of my PhD and has given me great career advice.