Fraser's Testimonial

Can you contrast your personal development at Petex with university experience?  

Development at university can be very structured and dictated by the lecturer. At Petex I was given the freedom to investigate topics that interested me even though they were not necessarily relevant to my projects. At University, modules would often have prescribed texts and exams were a “memory test”. At Petex I have been encouraged to critically evaluate texts and fundamentally understand the scientific principles. This has allowed me to connect different parts of my knowledge to solve new problems and describe concepts in a simple way.  

What is the most rewarding part of your job?  

The most rewarding part of my job is working with my colleagues at Petex. We have some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the industry which makes it a fantastic place to learn and is extremely motivating.  

Why did you decide to apply for a position with Petex?  

I carried out a research project at the University of Strathclyde during my undergraduate degree that involved modelling the conductivity enhancement of novel materials to be used in the energy transition. I really enjoyed the scientific modelling process: creating the models using physical principles, writing the code and analysing the results. Petex gave me the opportunity to use scientific modelling in my career.  

As a new start with Petex, can you describe your first impressions? 

Starting a new job is a daunting prospect for most people and I was no different. However, my colleagues at Petex were very welcoming and supportive and continue to be to this day. Petex has a unique culture. It promotes openness at all levels which makes you feel like you’re really part of the team and makes it easy to integrate into the company.  

Can you describe your initial development programme at Petex? 

I joined Petex as my first professional job after graduating from university. As a new employee at Petex, I must complete two projects. This has been a great opportunity to take the time to learn the fundamental principles behind the various software packages and where they all fit in the big picture. This will become invaluable to me when I complete the training process. Although I have been assured the learning never stops! Petex has also given me the time and support to learn at my own pace which has been fantastic.