How would you describe your role?

My current role is material interaction researcher. I work at the interface between the print process and materials functions. This involves understanding what the two different groups do, and connecting the dots on how a material interacts in a machine, via experiments and theory. As a material interaction researcher I am like the oil between two gears that enable a project to run smoothly. In this role, I get to see the whole story, and collaborate with people with different backgrounds and mindsets.

What does a typical day look like?

It involves everything from getting my hands dirty with practical work to test ideas, all the way to presenting the work to colleagues.  There is never a day without queries or problems to solve. This makes it even more exciting and challenging!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I can witness a product being developed from its very early phase all the way to production. It’s like a tale unfolding. It’s also important to build our knowledge of material to print process interaction. I’m happy to have introduced new parameters and methodologies to better align our material properties with print process requirements and vice versa.

What have you learned working at Canon Production Printing?

The pragmatic approach to problem-solving. In R&D, gathering knowledge and exploration is endless, but at the same time it is important to draw a line and say, this is it. It is important to be on top of your end goal, so as to balance innovation and cost, without compromising on quality.

What does your career path look like at Canon Production Printing?

We work within a wide range of disciplines, with a multitude of new technologies and problem-solving to create the best and most reliable products for our customers. I take this as an opportunity for my professional growth, to network and interact with colleagues outside of my own expertise to learn more about their work. A vast amount of knowledge and experience is available, and learning opportunities are endless.