From Research to Engineering Practice: An Industrial Secondment Experience at Voxdale

During my PhD journey, one thing I did not expect was how much I would miss working in a collaborative engineering team environment.

I recently completed an industrial secondment at Voxdale, where I had the chance to step outside the academic research environment and contribute to the early-stage concept ideation of a microfluidic diagnostic platform.

My work focused on feasibility development related to pressure-driven flow control, optical imaging, and particle tracking. I also explored different prototype strategies, hardware architectures, and system integration aspects, including usability and manufacturability considerations. It was a valuable opportunity to see how research ideas evolve into practical, evidence-based proof-of-concept directions within an industry setting.

What stood out most to me was the level of trust and inclusion I experienced from the very beginning. I was involved in client meetings early on and encouraged to contribute independently, while always having the support and guidance of the team whenever needed.

This secondment gave me valuable insight into the connection between academic research and real-world product development, while also reminding me how rewarding collaborative engineering work can be. I am very grateful to the team at Voxdale for making me feel part of the team so quickly, and to the SENNET project for making this experience possible.