Robin Henry

Degree: 2021 MENG Electronics and Computer Science, the University of Edinburgh 

Current role: First year Engineering Biology CDT student at Reuben College, The University of Oxford 

Why did you decide to study at the University of Edinburgh? And why did you choose to study Engineering? 

When I was in high school, I loved maths and sciences and I was always very practical. I wanted to study something where I could build things and work on problems, rather than doing fundamental research. I knew that engineering would open a lot of doors for me in the future, and it didn't corner me into a particular field. I also knew I enjoyed tinkering with computers after taking a couple of programming classes when I was in high school. Edinburgh had a degree sitting between the School of Engineering and the School of Informatics, which seemed perfect. 

I'm from Belgium, so deciding to study at the University of Edinburgh was first deciding to study abroad. When I was 16, I got to spend 3 months in California where I had exposure to a university over there. I really enjoyed the international atmosphere, the campus life, the city and the student experience. That’s when I decided that I wanted to study abroad, preferably somewhere English speaking, with a good reputation for engineering, not too far from home, and affordable. Scotland checked all of those boxes.  

I visited universities around Scotland and I remember really liking Edinburgh. I recall walking through The Meadows and seeing students sitting on the grass in the evening, chatting. This image always stuck with me for some reason - Edinburgh seemed very welcoming. And, of course, it had a great reputation for engineering. All of those things combined made Edinburgh a perfect fit.  

How did you get where you are? 

At Edinburgh, and during my year abroad at Caltech (California Institute of Technology), I mostly focused on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and power systems modelling.  I also spent most of my summers doing research with Prof. Damien Ernst at the University of Liège in Belgium, trying to apply these AI tools to solve decision-making problems in electricity systems. 

During my last year, I took a class in bioelectronics and started getting really intrigued by the biotech world, and in particular by synthetic biology. I applied for a PhD after graduation but wasn’t able to get the funding, so I decided to work for a few years and perhaps re-try a few years later.  

My partner and I moved to Oxford and I joined Habitat Energy, a start-up focussing on leveraging AI to optimise battery storage and other renewable energy assets in power markets. It was a relatively obvious fit for me because this was very close to what I had been researching during my summers and Master’s thesis project. I had a great time at Habitat - I loved the small company environment, the problem solving and the opportunity to experience various roles within the company. I always knew I would apply for a PhD again. Oxford announced a new CDT programme in Engineering Biology, and I was lucky enough to be accepted.  

What has been the highlight of your journey? 

When I was doing research as an undergraduate, I got to be involved in writing scientific papers. Having the opportunity to be an author was a big deal for me at the time, and it has opened many new doors since then. 

Have you got any personal or professional achievements in your career? 

As a Data Scientist at Habitat Energy, I spent most of my time writing code and talking to people about building models for the batteries that we were managing. But on top of that, I got to experience leadership, mentorship, project planning, project scoping, and many other aspects of early-stage companies. What I consider to be a personal achievement was the reputation and trust that I gained within the company and with those in senior roles during that period. 

What did you gain from your time at the University and were there any experiences during your time at university which particularly helped prepare you for life after graduation? 

I gained a lot from studying at the University of Edinburgh. It opened a lot of doors for me, and I am still experiencing these benefits now.  

The courses were great. I learned a lot of technical material, but I also gained lots from the extracurricular activities that I took part in during my time there. I played football in the Engineering Intramural team, which was a lot of fun. I was the team captain in my last year, and it was great to experience managing a group and advocate for the team within the School.  

I was also lucky enough to spend my third year abroad in California at Caltech. I will forever be grateful to the University of Edinburgh for providing me with this opportunity to experience a different academic environment, a different country altogether, and create lifelong friendships. 

During my last year, I also got to be the software lead of the Endeavor Student Society, where my team worked on building a flight computer for rockets that would eventually launch 30,000 feet in the air. Although the actual launch didn’t happen due to Covid, it was a really cool interdisciplinary student project to work on, and yet another amazing opportunity to practice leadership. All in all, the technical knowledge I gained at Edinburgh was extremely valuable and I still use a lot of it on a daily basis, and I’m sure I will continue to do so during my PhD. The University has played a big role in my journey.  

Do you have any highlights or a favourite memory of your time at the University? 

Playing football with the engineering team was definitely a big one. We trained every Wednesday afternoon in The Meadows and then played every Sunday morning. 

It was competitive but very sociable and fun and a great way to meet engineering students from other years. I made lifelong friends that I'm still in touch with. I definitely recommend joining some sort of sports team if you can. 

I loved hiking up Arthur's Seat or hanging out in The Meadows on a sunny day, which didn't happen that often, but when it did it was great! 

And, I loved Big Cheese on a Saturday night! It was always a highlight.  

What advice would you give future students who are considering studying Engineering at Edinburgh? 

The academic side of things is, of course, important at university. But I think going to university is so much more than that.  

What I loved about Edinburgh is the fact that it was a very international community - I really valued that. The fact that I could hang out with people from a dozen different countries on a daily basis was amazing. I think Edinburgh really stands out in this regard. 

I also loved the fact that there were so many extracurricular opportunities. So many student societies, sports teams, and other ways to engage with other students, to try new things, and to travel. Try to make the most of these opportunities. 

When it comes to the academic side, it might sound a bit cliché, but I’d urge you to follow what you're interested in. If there’s something at Edinburgh that you're really interested in, then that's definitely a great reason to come here. Don't worry about what other people think about your career trajectory. It's your journey and you should follow your interests, even if they only make sense to you.