Name: George Creasey
Department: Chemical Engineering
Email: g.creasey22@imperial.ac.uk

Student Programme Partner: Professional Effectiveness

My Research:  I am designing and testing up-scaled photoelectrochemical reactors for producing hydrogen via solar water splitting.

Why I applied for this particular SPP role: When I started my PhD, I found that one of the biggest challenges was the management and planning of my day-to-day PhD research. For this reason, I found the Professional Effectiveness courses for doctoral students really impactful and putting the courses into action has helped me to make continual progress throughout my PhD. As a student in my 3rd year, I now want to facilitate the professional development of others through supporting the Professional Effectiveness programme at the Early Career Researcher Institute as a Student Programme Partner.

Why I think professional development training is important: Professional development is crucial because during the PhD you are not only developing a research project; you are also developing yourself for your future career, be it in academia or industry, and perhaps outside of research. The skills developed during the PhD in communication, project management, leadership, teaching, and so much more will remain with you (and continue to be developed) long after your PhD viva.