From Snowboarding Competitions to Corrosion Research
Currently a Corrosion Researcher at FPInnovations, Matthew Tunnicliffe graduated from UBC Materials Engineering in 2009. He earned a Master of Applied Science in Materials, Corrosion, and Electrochemistry at UBC MTRL in 2011. His undergraduate years were marked by camaraderie and friendships formed while studying materials and metallurgy, and he was involved with the UBC Ski and Board club and UBC Surf club. Matthew was known for studying remotely as he competed in snowboard cross on the BC Provincial team and Canada’s High Performance program, participating in over 20 World Cups during his studies.
1. Can you tell me about your current job? How did you end up with it?
The final course I took during my undergrad was on corrosion, which piqued my interest in completing a master’s degree (and allowed me more time to pursue my dream of making the 2010 Olympics). This course laid the foundation for my continued education and my current position at FPInnovations. After missing out on the Olympics and completing my M.A.Sc, I was searching for corrosion jobs and found a corrosion group on campus in the forestry industry. It hadn’t been updated in some time but I submitted my resume anyway serendipitously just as a researcher was leaving the company. I took over their role as a materials and corrosion expert and have been at it ever since.
2. What does a typical day look like for you? Does a typical day exist?
Corrosion experiments tend to be lengthy and require simulating a specific process environment often running for 24 hours and up to 500 or 1,000 hours. These environments range from room temperature to 1,000°C and pH from 0 to 13. There are usually three main phases to my days:
#1: Beginning every day, I ensure that the experiments are are stable and that no spills or hazards were generated overnight.
#2: After the morning walkthrough, I check in with the technologists who run experiments to determine what’s next to study and what setups require assembly or address specific equipment that isn’t working as anticipated.
#3: The rest of the day involves communicating with industry contacts to better understand the challenges they face daily, reviewing literature for current project work and ensuring our experiments are aligned, and supporting fellow researchers who may encounter corrosion problems in their field of study.
3. How did your Masters degree in materials engineering help shape your career progression?
“My master’s degree helped me to focus on an area of materials research that I find interesting and allowed me to explore a niche subject, narrowing my job search to a specific field. I feel fortunate to have continued working in this same field I specialized in, and especially to have found this position after completing my masters. “
I really enjoy my work at FPInnovations because I have the opportunity to see material challenges in industry, demonstrate it in the laboratory and then present my findings internally and eventually publish a paper on the topic.
4. What opportunities do you see for materials graduates in your field?
From a materials of construction and corrosion perspective, the pulp and paper industry probably has the widest range of corrosion challenges in a single plant.
“I would also say that completing my education at UBC positioned me very well to get my foot in the door at a research institute.”
5. What advice would you give to someone entering this field?
After my undergrad and master’s, I would say I wish I had known how much I didn’t know! Learning theory and completing assignments is one thing at school, but seeing issues firsthand, climbing in and out of equipment, and applying what you’ve learned is where the real fun and satisfaction begins. I would recommend that while digital resources are becoming more prevalent, the answer to many problems I face daily can still be derived from a book in a library.
6. How do you think your MTRL degree sets you apart from graduates of other programs?
“My degrees helped me understand the existence of many industry processes and fields. My exposure to these fields early on helped me be a better researcher in my current line of work.”
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