Profile
![Photo:](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ELEANOR-DAVIES_c-150x150.jpeg)
Eleanor Davies
Curriculum Vitae
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Education:
I went to Malcolm Sargent Primary School then Stamford High School in Stamford.
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Qualifications:
I did GCSEs including English, Maths, Science, Art, French, Spanish, History. I then did A Levels in MAths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, as well as AS LEvel Economics. I did Engineering at university.
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Work History:
I worked as a waitress and grain sampler when at school and university. I taught Engineering and English in China in 2012. I led the design and construction of a simplified sewerage system in Tanzania in 2014. I did a summer placement in my current company in 2013 then joined as a graduate in 2014. I have been here for nearly six years.
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Current Job:
Senior Structural Engineer
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Employer:
I work for Buro Happold. We design buildings and cities.
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About Me
I like playing sport and seeing my friends
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I live in Bath with housemates. I play lots of sport, including hockey, tennis, squash, touch rugby, cricket and running. I like travelling especially to places that involve lots of walking. I am cricket captain at work and member of a local hockey club, touch rugby team and tennis and squash club. When not playing sport or travelling, I like seeing my friends and family, going out for dinner or to their houses.
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My Work
I work with architects to design buildings, I make sure they stand up and won't fall down.
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I decide what the form and materials of a building should be so that it can resist all the forces that act on it, like gravity and wind. I work with the architect to make sure the building looks like they want it to. We communicate with sketches, drawings and 3D models. I work with the mechanical engineer to make sure all the pipes and air conditioning can fit in rooms and don’t clash with the structure. I work with the builder to make sure the building can be built safely, on time and to budget. I check the structure is safe using a miture of hand calculations and calculations and analysis models on the computer.
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My Typical Day: My days are very varied, which is great. When in an office, my day involves a mixture of calculations, modelling, sketching and meetings. When on site, I check the structure is being built right.
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Over the last few years, I have worked in different countries, in different offices and on different sites, so really there is no typical day. This variety and opportunity to travel and experience new things is one of the things I love most about structural engineering. That and seeing your creations come to life.
When in an office, my day involves a mixture of calculations, modelling, sketching and meetings. All are part of the process of design for construction, which involves collaboration with clients, architects and contractors amongst others. This could be at the very start of a project when we are bouncing ideas around on the overall building form and materials with the architect, to the site phase, where we are solving critical interface details with the site manager.
I support junior colleagues with technical advice and chartership, as well as taking part in outreach at schools and organising student and graduate conference to engage the next generation of engineers.
Whilst on site, I ensure that structures are built as per my design and I constantly learn lessons that I can take forwards to future projects.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
enthusiastic, logical, friendly
What's the best thing you've done in your career?
I led the design and construction of a simplified sewerage system in Tanzania.
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
I did work experience with an architect. I enjoyed it, but preferred the more maths and science of buildings.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths, science and art
What did you want to be after you left school?
An engineer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would have like to be a professional sportsperson, but I am not good enough at any sports.
What's your favourite food?
Chocolate and fruit
What is the most fun thing you've done?
There isn't one thing. Sport and travel
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