The Ashok Kumar Fellowship, offered in partnership with the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), presents an exceptional opportunity for an early-career researcher to engage directly with policymakers in both Houses of Parliament. This unique fellowship enables the selected candidate to develop critical briefing materials on emerging scientific topics, providing invaluable experience in how research evidence informs decision-making processes.
Joe Greaves said: “I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the Ashok Kumar Fellowship for 2024, and to be given the opportunity to contribute to the UK Parliament’s dialogue on science and technology."
Joe graduated in 2024 with an MEng Chemical Engineering with a Year in Industry. In his role of Research Fellow at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology he works on producing briefings on topics of interest for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, to ensure that the best available research evidence and information is brought to bear on the legislative process and scrutiny of Government.
Joe's final year research project played a significant role in his success and his drive to pursue further research. He attributes the project with providing his first real introduction to the research environment, saying, "It was my first real introduction to the world of research. I found the project extremely valuable, and it inspired me to pursue research in some form in my career after university." His project, focused on assessing the sustainability of electrolysis technologies for hydrogen production, stemmed from his interest in the topic during his industrial placement at ITM Power. The project was supervised by Professor Rachael Rothman with support from Dr Fanran Meng and Dr Katy Armstrong.
We asked Joe what advice would he give to younger students interested in studying engineering at Sheffield?
"Sheffield is an excellent place to study engineering. Its research is at the cutting edge of many exciting new fields, and the teaching leaves you well prepared for either a career in industry or for postgraduate study.
There's also lots of opportunities to work on projects as part of a team, often with people from different backgrounds and disciplines, which is great preparation for life as a professional engineer. "
