Meet a Nilar Employee

 

What is the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
My current PhD work at KTH Royal Institute of Technology is very interesting. It revolves around making a model of the battery, which requires a full understanding of how it functions. One of my colleagues at KTH has convinced me to get involved in structural analysis, working on the correlation between the open circuit voltage hysteresis of the battery and the structure of the electrode. This has led to the use of different instruments that allows me to investigate the inner functions of the battery, looking at structure and how that relates to electrochemical properties.

How did your journey with Nilar begin?
Honestly, through networking, which I have learned to be very important in this industry. Lars Fredriksson, one of Nilar’s founders, contacted me directly and I was interviewed shortly after. I started working in battery characteristics but then moved to more of an analyst position, managing data and creating algorithms to benefit our battery operation.

What motivates you?
My motivation is a combination of multiple things. I want to feel like I have done something worthwhile and have contributed to society. I also feel I have a burning curiosity that drives me to always want to know the “how” and “why” and I am not satisfied unless I know how things work.

What’s the best thing about working at Nilar?
In my opinion, the best thing about Nilar is the team I work with; I appreciate the people. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of bureaucracy imposed, which helps us to solve problems together without having to deal with red tape. Everyone in the group is very driven, which I think is needed for this type of work. Teamwork is the biggest highlight, and I am energized by the challenges of problem solving.

Early mistakes that you learnt from in your career?
Communication skills are more important than I think I could have imagined. I found that when presenting information, many people want the big picture first, then correlated with details from there. Different people, different experiences, different brains all can interpret the same facts and come to different conclusions. When communicating, it is my job to lead the audience through my thought journey, arriving at the conclusions I have made. I feel I am very detail-oriented and sometimes veer off track with the particulars, losing the audience. I had to find a way to communicate that was not natural to me and I do still work on that today.

Your favorite book or genre?
I really enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction. One of my favorite authors is Brandon Sanderson. He is known for the Mistborn series. He also wrote the final books of the Wheel of Time series, which was stipulated by the will of the original author. In general, I think Sanderson is a very talented world builder. He manages to incorporate different magic systems as well, adding to the variety of his writing. I find one of the most interesting aspects of science fiction and fantasy is the way authors can tackle the topic of societal issues. Even though the stories include fantastical creations, it is interesting to see the real impact something like that can have on a society.

A secret talent?
I sing opera. This started almost two years ago, after being denied singing in my normal choir by the pandemic. I take classes with a private tutor and participate in group classes. It is in a masterclass format where we work as a small group, getting advice on improving as we perform. I feel music is my lifeblood, and it has always been a part of my life from an early age. I remember wanting to be an opera singer when I was a child, but I think I put too much pressure on the concept. With age, I realized that I could just sing for me, for the enjoyment of the craft.