#FaradayPathways Megan Penrod, University of Cambridge

Megan’s career journey has led her from an undergraduate degree at Penn State University in the USA, to her current role as Research Assistant at the University of Cambridge. She is passionate about communicating science and runs inspiring STEM outreach workshops in schools to encourage the next generation of battery scientists.

Megan’s love of science started at a very young age.

“My parents allowed me to do little projects around the house. I liked making robots and playing with Lego. One time I even built a mini solar powered house, which nearly blew up our garage, but was very fun to make.”

“I always liked figuring out problems and tackling an unknown with different techniques. I also like how science lets you be creative – art is another passion of mine.”

For her undergraduate degree, Megan studied at Penn State University in the United States. Initially she studied Energy Engineering, before switching to Materials Science.

“I always knew I wanted to work with renewable energy, but the Energy Engineering course was more focused on engineering and fieldwork rather than science. Therefore, I decided to swap to Materials Science because I really enjoy being in the lab. I chose to specialise in electrical materials and metals.”

In 2019, Megan stayed at Penn State, where she started a position undertaking computational and experimental research with Professor Dabo.

“I was using DFT [Density Functional Theory] to calculate energy band gaps and synthesising different materials. I also started working on lithium-sulfur batteries, which started my passion for batteries.”

Megan also worked as a teaching assistant at Penn State, teaching undergraduates different microscopic techniques including SEM, TFM and AFM (scanning electron microscopy, traction force microscopy and atomic force microscopy).

“This helped me to become more confident in the lab because I had to know enough to be able to teach someone else how to perform various techniques.”

In 2021, Megan moved across the world and began working as a Research Assistant in Professor Dame Clare Grey’s group at the University of Cambridge.

“It was challenging adapting not only to a new culture, but also to a new academic culture. I love being in Cambridge, it’s a beautiful place to live and work.”

“I am carrying out my own research looking at the thermal stability of lithium nickel oxides, and the effects of different binders on the material composition. I have also transitioned into looking at acid base reactions at the graphite solid electrolyte interface.”

Megan is also involved in the Faraday Institution’s Degradation Project.

“We are investigating how nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMCs) chemistries work. I am responsible for making sure everyone in the project has the correct materials, which can be stressful at times.”

What opportunities has Megan gained from being part of the Faraday Institution community?

“I’m part of the Degradation project, but Faraday expands far beyond that. It’s nice to hear about current research in other areas, and they also have great industrial and academic connections.”

“It’s such a respectful and friendly networking community. PhD students are able to share their opinions and the professors are very willing to listen to them and discuss ideas.”

“One person who was particularly supportive to me was David Hall, the former Project Leader of the Degradation project. He let me figure out my own research, while also being there to help, which I think is really important. He helped me get more involved with Faraday.”

Megan is starting a research-based masters in the autumn of 2023 at Cambridge. In the future, she would like to do a PhD in Energy Materials.

Megan Penrod using a glove box at the Chemistry labs in Cambridge

Megan Penrod with a coworker at the Chemistry labs in Cambridge

Megan’s group leader, Professor Clare Grey, won the Körber European Science Prize in 2021, worth one million euros, and has allocated a certain amount of this money to funding STEM outreach. Megan and her coworker Darren Ould, from the Faraday Institution’s NEXGENNA project, lead the STEM outreach initiatives alongside their research. They run workshops at schools in Peterborough, targeted at children between 9 and 12 years old.

“We prioritise schools that would otherwise have less opportunity to access this type of hands-on science.”

“We aim to give the kids a real-world concept of how batteries work, and have been using the RSC’s model. This involves making batteries out of pennies, aluminium foil and cardboard that has been soaked in lemon juice or vinegar. (We choose a safe electrolyte because one of the kids always tries to drink it)! This is then attached to a calculator or a buzzer.”

Megan will also lead science outreach programmes for older children at the New Scientist Live in October. This is with Professor Clare Grey’s company, Nyobolt, which has created small robots with fast-charging batteries that can be controlled with a phone.

“This will be an effective way of engaging secondary school students. We think it is important to give them the confidence to pursue science.”

In 2023, Megan won the Faraday Institution Community Award STEM Outreach Award set up to recognise the efforts of an individual or a team who provides engaging and inspirational activities for young people in their local or national communities. The panel noted:

“Megan has gone above and beyond in taking a leading role in providing STEM outreach activities focusing on electricity and energy storage to young people whilst growing and empowering an enthusiastic outreach team. A primary focus has been to inspire young people about the wonder of batteries and associated careers, gaining praise from volunteers and teachers alike. The enthusiasm and hard work involved in making these events a success clearly shows Megan’s commitment and how she embodies the core values of the Faraday Institution, making her a worthy winner of this year’s STEM outreach award.”

What does Megan gain from leading these science outreach activities?

“I find it really enjoyable and rewarding. It is also a very effective way of learning how to communicate science. Most of the people I talk to every day know the lingo and practically the whole topic I am researching, but the majority of the world doesn’t necessarily know the specifics of what we are doing. When you are speaking to children who have no concept of what an electron is, it pushes you to find alternative ways of explaining it.”

“The children always ask a million questions, some are relevant, some are not, but it is very rewarding to encourage their curiosity.”

What advice would she give her younger self?

“I always thought I would graduate from my undergrad and then immediately go into an industrial job or further education. It has taken me a while to be ok with not doing that. I would tell myself that things don’t always go as planned, but you will end up making it to where you want to be. Everyone has their own timeline.”

#FaradayPathway written by Nancy Stitt and published September 2023.