SCIENCE CAREERS

Jipeng Lin, Application Engineer

What is your role and how did you arrive at your current position?
My role is Innovation Application Engineer. I came into contact with M Squared a couple of years before joining – we had worked on a few projects together, and the company funded something I was working on. As soon as I’d finished my contract with Macquarie University as a research fellow, I joined M Squared. That was December 2015.

What time do you wake up?
I wake up at 7 am.

When do you start?
I start my work at about 8:45.

The main challenge is how to keep updated with the latest knowledge in this field

What is the first thing you do when you arrive at work?
Make some tea and chat with colleagues, check email, make plans for the work day ahead.

What attracted you to your career?
I was always fascinated by science and engineering. I finished my undergraduate in Tsinghua University, having majored in nuclear science. After graduation, I worked for the Chinese Academy of Science for three years on laser engineering. I did my PhD in physics at Macquarie University, followed by a three-year post-doc on Raman laser research. Then I joined M-Squared.

What have been your biggest challenges in this role?
The main challenge is keeping updated with the latest knowledge in this field. I have to keep learning about scientific progress by reading the latest journal papers. On the other hand, I need to adapt to the industrial environment, to be aware the different challenges in scientific research and the engineering industry.

Describe your workspace.
I sit with my colleague, where we can easily chat about what we’re working on.

What kind of tools do you work with?
Many tools are useful in my work. For scientific research, I use software for programming, simulation and literature management. For engineering work, I’m using mechanical design software, some workshop for hardware modification.

Who do you interact most with?
Many people. I interact with Nils, my direct supervisor, on the weekly progress of work, new ideas and challenges. I also communicate with other engineers. One of the most useful things for me is getting valuable opinions from experts from other disciplines; this can often help to solve problems quickly and also allows me to gain experience in other disciplines.

How often do you get out of the office?
Most my time is spent in M Squared’s office. I occasionally travel to visit collaborators and customers.

What do you most look forward to each day?
Gaining new knowledge and experience.

What or who inspires you?
My son inspires me most. I believe what we’re doing here at M Squared is important and will help to change the world. The next generation will definitely benefit from our work.

What do you do for lunch?
I bring lunch from home, mostly Chinese cooking. But I sometimes buy from M&S.

Describe your best day at work to date.
My favourite day was the ten-year anniversary of the company. I met a lot of colleagues from other cities whom I’d never seen before. It’s interesting to find out different things they’re working on. The games we played that day were also lots of fun.