As a former member of the University of Aberdeen's TAU Racing Society, Aneetta Joy has enjoyed life in the fast lane on her way to graduating with an MEng in Chemical Engineering.
The 23-year-old from Aberdeen was part of a team which each year designs and builds a single-seat race car to compete in the annual Formula Student competition held by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). She also had an academic scholarship with the team’s primary sponsor, CNOOC International.
Starting off within the team’s composites and aerodynamics department, Aneetta eventually took on a committee role as treasurer while studying towards her degree. Making the most of the extra-curricular opportunities available at the School of Engineering has been a key part of her university experience, despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic.
“One of the main challenges I faced, like many others, is the transition to virtual learning. The uncertainty of the pandemic made it difficult to find work experience. However, the extra-curricular activities that I participated in at the university resulted in me securing an internship position at TotalEnergies.’’
“I also had the opportunity to be a part of the ADIUVA Erasmus program, organised by Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe from the School of Engineering. This was a fantastic program, which included a visit to the Polytechnic Universität of Valencia. We got the opportunity to learn about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and waste management – it was a really valuable experience.”
Passing on what she has learned is important to Aneetta, and in the fourth year of her degree she became a demonstrator, helping younger colleagues during tutorial sessions. “I wanted to create a positive learning experience for others,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Aneetta is about to start work as a graduate process engineer for Repsol Sinopec, but she is grateful to all those who have helped play a part in her success.
“I would like to thank my lecturers for all the work they have put in to make my time at university valuable and enjoyable, and my family and friends for their continuous support.”