Profile
Claire Brockett
My CV
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Education:
Dame Alice Harpur School
City of Westminster College, London (part time when I was a cardiac technician)
University of Bradford
University of Leeds
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Qualifications:
10 GCSEs
A Levels in Maths, Chemistry and PhysicsHNC in Science (Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement)
BEng in Medical Engineering
PhD in Medical Engineering
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Work History:
Student Cardiac Technician – Bedford Hospital
Student Research Engineer – DePuy Synthes, Leeds
Research Fellow – University of Leeds
University Academic Fellow – University of Leeds
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Current Job:
Associate Professor of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Leeds
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About Me:
I’m a medical engineer who enjoys art and music. Was once a champion archer!
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I live about 12 miles away from Leeds, not too far from the Yorkshire Dales. I live with my husband, Mark, who works in the chemicals industry. We have a pet cat, and the village has a lot of ducks which often take up residence in our garden – much to the annoyance of the cat!
Outside of work, I am quite musical – I play piano reasonably well, guitar quite badly and I got a ukulele for Christmas, so I’ve been learning a few chords. If you’re very unlucky I sing along. Mark is a pretty talented artist, but I generally just make a mess. Being an engineer, I think I prefer order and angular structures – so I tend to make mosaics instead.
I used to be quite sporty – representing GB in archery when I was young – but I’ve been very busy with my job so haven’t done that much lately – but am hoping to re-start next year!
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Read more
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My research is all about ankles!
I am a medical engineer and my research is focussed on the ankle joint – understanding the load and movement that happens at the ankle when we walk and go about our lives, and seeing how this changes when we get an injury, such as an ankle sprain.
Over time, and as we get older, our joints can become stiff and sore, and some people might need a joint replacement. At the moment, ankle replacements are not used very much and don’t always work as well as we’d like – so another area of my research is looking at improving the designs of these to make them work longer. I’m working with a group of researchers to design new tests so that we can ensure they are safe before they are used to treat patients. This picture shows a ‘simulator’ which can make the ankle joint ‘walk’ for days on end – similar to what would happen in a patient
I also teach on our mechanical engineering and product design degrees and supervise some projects. I really enjoy teaching, and particularly working with the students on their projects- I have some amazing students who I know will go on to do great things!
I also like doing our public engagement activities – this can be anything from running a school workshop to science fairs. A little while ago, I did an MP pairing scheme – I got to shadow an MP at the Houses of Parliament to see how government works, and then he came to our labs – which was a lot of fun. He hadn’t done any science or engineering since GCSE so I hope we taught him some new things!
I’m really lucky with my job, I work with so many different people and it’s really rewarding. I know that the research I’m doing might change someones life, and even on days I find difficult, where there might be some problems to solve, that makes everything worthwhile!
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My Typical Day: So at the moment it’s a bit strange as I’m working from home – but I still talk to a lot of researchers and am doing a lot of work. Thankfully I do some computer modelling of biomechanics – which I’m able to do here. I keep in touch with my students online via chats and emails. When at university – I get in around 0830 and leave around 1730 – I have a 30 minute train journey each way which allows me to wake up/switch off and get reading my latest favourite fiction! Probably spend a bit of time catching up with emails, and then will have some meetings with the researchers in my team. I might go into the laboratory to see how particular tests are going. In term time, I also lecture our undergraduate researchers on biomaterials, biomechanics and something called tribology – which is the science of sliding surfaces. At the moment, I’m also doing something called a ‘discipline hop’ – which means I spend one or two days a week over at the hospital – shadowing clinics, observing surgery, interviewing patients and talking to surgeons. I’m loving it – it’s really helping me work out what is important for my research.
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My Typical Day:
So at the moment it’s a bit strange as I’m working from home – but I still talk to a lot of researchers and am doing a lot of work. Thankfully I do some computer modelling of biomechanics – which I’m able to do here. I keep in touch with my students online via chats and emails. When at university – I get in around 0830 and leave around 1730 – I have a 30 minute train journey each way which allows me to wake up/switch off and get reading my latest favourite fiction! Probably spend a bit of time catching up with emails, and then will have some meetings with the researchers in my team. I might go into the laboratory to see how particular tests are going. In term time, I also lecture our undergraduate researchers on biomaterials, biomechanics and something called tribology – which is the science of sliding surfaces. At the moment, I’m also doing something called a ‘discipline hop’ – which means I spend one or two days a week over at the hospital – shadowing clinics, observing surgery, interviewing patients and talking to surgeons. I’m loving it – it’s really helping me work out what is important for my research.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Enthusiastic, organised, happy
What did you want to be after you left school?
Environmental Scientist or Zoologist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really, but I was a bit lazy!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Lizzo
What's your favourite food?
Risotto - I love a chicken and leek one!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Oh this is tricky - I'll have to come back to it.
Tell us a joke.
What kind of fish is made of two sodium atoms? 2Na (ok, my jokes are BAD!)
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