Shahd Al Balushi

PIPS Placement Host Organisation: Cambridge phenotyping limited

PIPS Placement Project Title: To design, prototype, and evaluate a removable, high-temperature resistant 3D-printed tray insert for a SmartKage system to optimize laboratory mouse husbandry and ease of cleaning.

During her placement, Shahd designed, prototyped, and evaluated custom mini tray inserts for a model of the SmartKage system, transforming a digital concept in FreeCAD into a functional physical solution that optimizes daily mouse cage maintenance. Navigating the geometric constraints of CAD modelling and troubleshooting 3D printing parameters allowed her to significantly expand my technical engineering skillset beyond standard neuroscience data analysis. Furthermore, the project required moving past basic prototyping to research industrial scaling, giving Shahd deep insight into the technical and commercial trade-offs of injection molding, thermoforming, and materials science, particularly regarding polymer stability under high-temperature sterilization. This experience provided valuable career insight into industrial product life cycles, demonstrating how engineering and animal welfare intersect in commercial biotechnology. Ultimately, managing this project independently enhanced Shahd’s professional resourcefulness, technical communication, and cross-disciplinary adaptability, proving that her analytical skills as a researcher are highly transferable to real-world operational and manufacturing challenges outside of academic research.

Cambridge Phenotyping Limited confirmed that the placement and project took place and were keen to work with the DTP again in the future.