Here at Edinburgh Instruments, we are proud of all our employees for all they do behind the scenes, so we thought it was time to put them in the spotlight. This series does exactly that; you get a sneak peek into what drives, excites and enamours our team. We hope you enjoy it!
Meet Gillian Brown, Development Engineer here at Edinburgh Instruments. The Raman Development Team at Edinburgh Instruments is responsible for improving and refining the company’s Raman instruments and software through a combination of lab testing and data analysis.
Oh – it’s been quite the struggle. When I started my undergrad, I was undiagnosed autistic, and without the right support, things quickly fell apart. I had to take time out, during which I was formally diagnosed and began learning the tools to better understand myself and manage my health. I later returned to study Physics at Heriot-Watt University, this time with proper support in place. It still wasn’t easy, but I got through and completed my degree.
I was then, somewhat out of the blue, offered a PhD position at the University of Edinburgh. With no other plans, I decided to give it a go – why not! My PhD focused on designing an optical system for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy using SPAD sensors. When I saw this role at EI advertised, it felt like a natural next step, the overlap with my PhD work was too perfect to ignore.
So, it’s not been the easiest journey. Living and working while disabled is an ongoing process, I’m still learning, and there are definitely challenges to manage day to day. I’ve had to figure out how I work best, how to recognise where I can excel, and when I need input or support. Along the way, I’ve developed skills, experience, and perspective that shape how I approach both work and life now.
I work as part of the Raman Development Team, where I help improve and refine our Raman instruments and software. My role involves a nice balance of hands-on testing in the lab and desk-based data analysis and documentation. Recently, I’ve been focused on testing different motors to improve the accuracy and repeatability of our spectrographs. I’ve also spent time checking new software features, making sure they work as intended and feeding back ideas for improvement. It’s a collaborative role, working with colleagues across software, engineering, production, and applications.
I very much like being cosied up at home, and if I’m not working on my PhD thesis, you’d usually find me curled up with a jigsaw or playing games (my current obsession is Baldur’s Gate). I recently started sewing, purely so I could make (and hand-rhinestone) my own outfit for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. I also love baking and cooking, or heading out to the many, many incredible cafés and restaurants around Edinburgh. I’m definitely at my happiest with a plate of good food and a glass of wine in front of me.
Lately, I’ve been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone, so despite being terrified of heights, I’ve taken up aerial silks.
I’m actually a qualified sailing instructor, I spent several summers working at an outdoor activity centre. I ran sailing courses and led activities like canoeing, orienteering, raft building, and powerboat trips. The centre specialises in accessible outdoor activities, so a big part of the job involved working with disabled people and using adapted equipment to make activities accessible to a wide range of needs. I really enjoyed meeting so many different people and being part of making activities more inclusive for everyone. It was a lot of fun. I’d love to do it again one day.
I don’t often watch movies, I’m more of a series gal, but if I had to pick a few favourites I’ve seen recently or can always go back to, they’d be:
If you enjoyed hearing about Gillian’s story, check our the rest of our People of Edinburgh Instruments blogs!
