Qasim Ali

Outreach and communications assistant at the Dalton Nuclear Institute.

Qasim works in outreach, communications and researcher development, helping to support the Dalton Nuclear Institute’s engagement activity across The University of Manchester and beyond. Through planning events, supporting Dalton Champions and STEM Ambassadors and helping to communicate nuclear research to different audiences, his role contributes to the development of well-rounded nuclear researchers who can communicate their work and collaborate across disciplines.

 

At a glance

  • Outreach and communications assistant at the Dalton Nuclear Institute.
  • BA Geography with professional placement, The University of Manchester.
  • Supports outreach, researcher development and student engagement in nuclear.
An illustration of Qasim's career path showing the steps he took

A typical day looks like ...

My role is all about helping to connect people with nuclear research, events and opportunities, while supporting how Dalton presents itself to its internal and external communities.

A typical day involves preparing for events such as seminars, which can have an important impact in both academia and industry by sharing expertise and opening up discussion around key topics in the sector. I help to advertise these events, plan volunteer rotas and keep things running smoothly, often needing to be proactive and adapt quickly to last-minute changes.

The role can also be quite unpredictable, in the sense that it is often reactionary. I might be given something new to work on that day and need to shift tasks depending on priorities.

My work is important because it helps shape how Dalton presents itself and communicates with members of its internal and external community.

My favourite thing about my role is ...

I get to work alongside highly regarded professionals in the nuclear sector, which allows me to expand my own understanding of the industry while learning from great role models.

I also really enjoy working with the STEM Ambassador group and helping to teach local school students about the importance of nuclear energy. Since I am not from a STEM background myself, I find this especially interesting and I’ve increasingly come to see science and engineering as fun, challenging and much more accessible in my own studies than I might once have expected.

My advice to students interested in a future in the nuclear sector ...

For students thinking about a future in nuclear, opportunities like conferences, outreach activity and training programmes such as SATURN can be especially valuable. They not only help build knowledge of the sector, but also develop the transferable skills and networks that can open up future opportunities.

Nuclear Week in Parliament, Night at the Museum and the many conferences I’ve attended were hugely positive and impactful experiences for me. They’ve shown me just how many different pathways there are into nuclear and how people from a wide range of academic backgrounds can find a place in the sector.