Tane Butler

Tane was always inquisitive about the natural world and wanted to understand its many phenomena, so studying science was definitely on the cards for him.

Being a part of the team means there are always people willing to give advice or lend a hand when you are trying to solve a technical problem. There is support from staff available at any stage in the conceptualization, fabrication, and testing of an idea, and having an onsite workshop allows fast transition from an idea to a real physical object.

My time at Robinson Research Institute began at the start of 2017 when I was offered a three-month research assistant position working with Dr Bart Ludbrook. At the time I was unsure whether I wanted to pursue a career in science, but this opportunity enabled me to get hands on experience in research while finishing my BSc. Working with Dr Ludbrook and later Dr Simon Granville introduced me to the relatively new field of spintronics and spintronic device design, fabrication, and application. After the three-month contract was completed I signed to stay on as a research assistant and I’m still here today.

Being able to grow thin films a couple of nanometres thick is essential to the study of spintronics and its application to electronic devices. Robinson has amazing facilities for the study of thin films. A typical day for me is spent working with a KJL sputtering system for growing thin films, then characterising the grown samples using a variety of instruments including a PPMS (Physical Property measurements system), a SQUID (Superconducting quantum interference device), X-ray diffractometer, and an ion mill. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to work with such high-quality equipment in an undergraduate physics lab or most research labs in New Zealand.

Robinson fosters a collaborative and friendly environment which is really enhanced by the number of interns, students, and researchers who come here from overseas. The people who come here bring a wide variety of expertise with them. Being a part of the team means there are always people willing to give advice or lend a hand when you are trying to solve a technical problem. There is support from staff available at any stage in the conceptualization, fabrication, and testing of an idea, and having an onsite workshop allows fast transition from an idea to a real physical object.

Robinson’s central location in New Zealand makes it easy to spend many of the long weekends travelling or visiting friends in other parts of the country. Lower Hutt is very close to Wellington City, so I am able to enjoy all the aspect of living in Wellington City as well as being able to work at world class research facility only short 20 minute drive away.

Over the past year Robinson has reinvigorated my interest in experimental physics research, and provided a great lifestyle and platform for me to further my studies. Right now, I am working part time at Robinson for Dr Bob Buckley and Dr Simon Granville and studying fourth year papers at Victoria University of Wellington, where Dr Buckley and Dr Granville are my lecturer and research project supervisor respectively. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the Robinson community and I’m excited to see where our research will take us next.