One of the things I enjoy the most about my PhD is the freedom to conduct research and experiments, which is a huge advantage, but also can cause a lot of stress. The opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people is something that you will appreciate. I really appreciate the friendships I made during my project, both with other PhD students, University staff and local people.
Usually, I spend most of my working hours in the laboratory, building, assembling and testing another test stand or conducting experiments on an already ready test rig. I have to mention the obligatory coffee break because it is an important part of every day of my work. After 6:00pm, usually I enjoy dinner with my wife who also supports me a lot in my research work as she is an engineer herself. In the evenings I work at home on data analysis, design changes and CFD simulation. I try very hard not to work on weekends, because it is time to visit the nearby and more distant Loughborough surroundings and get to know British culture, traditions and cuisine (yes, I love to eat)!