In this episode, Steph is back at Teesside University to meet Jorja Karmen, a bright, young Chemical Engineering student and beneficiary of an Enginuity scholarship. 

Jorja tells us about her less conventional route into chemical engineering, including how attending a nuclear and radiochemistry summer school in Leeds introduced her to the topic and how she juggled taking an extra course to meet entry requirements while working, post A-levels, as an assistant restaurant manager. 

Jorja discusses the impact of being diagnosed with Asperger’s late in Year 11, and how it’s helped her own understanding of the way she processes and thinks, and the benefits that has brought. 

Now in second year, Jorja shares why she started the Process Engineering Society at Teesside University, the need for more early representation to encourage girls into engineering and her own career goals. 

She tells us why funding support through Enginuity has helped her focus on her studies by reducing financial burden and lowering her stress and outlines her next steps including her hopes for her upcoming placement year.

00:00 Meet Jorja: Chemical Engineering student at Teeside University 

01:01 The Summer School That Sparked a New Path 

01:58 Finding a Route In: Access Course, Working Life & Learning From ‘Wrong Turns’

02:59 Mental Health & Late Autism Diagnosis: Understanding Yourself

05:05 Big Influences: Mum’s Entrepreneurial Drive & Resilience

05:58 Starting Uni Without the ‘Right’ A-Levels: Imposter Syndrome, Being One of Few Women

07:14 Thriving in Year 2: Launching the Process Engineering Society

08:29 Placements and Career Goals 

11:15 Why She Loves Engineering: Challenge, Passion, and Hyper-Focus

11:36 Women in Engineering: Representation, Stereotypes, and Starting Young

12:59 Career Switch & Confidence: ‘Academic Enough’ vs Real-World Skills

15:17 Life Beyond Uni

17:33 Funding & Support: How Scholarships Reduce Stress and Keep You Focused

18:58 What’s Next: Placement, Grad Role Goals

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