A third year civil engineering student has become the latest young person to benefit from Rochester Bridge Trust’s commitment to nurturing the engineers of the future.
Mark Gatdula, who has been appointed Assistant Bridge Engineer, has joined the Trust for a year in industry as he studies towards his BSc at Nottingham Trent University.
His role is to support the Bridge Team in its management of Rochester Bridge, assisting with the development and delivery of activities such as the annual maintenance plan. This includes carbon reduction measures in line with the Trust’s Net Zero Carbon strategy.
Bridge Project Manager Helen Rowe said: “Mark has only been with us for a short while but has already fitted in very well and become a useful addition to the in-house engineering team. He brings fresh insights to the issues we need to deal with and his enthusiasm for all matters to do with bridge engineering and carbon reduction is infectious.
“The year in industry initiative is a win-win – the student gets valuable hands-on experience of real-life engineering as well as mentoring from more senior colleagues. Meanwhile, the employer benefits from a motivated employee, who has been taught the latest engineering techniques and comes to the role with new perspectives.”
Mark’s role extends to assisting with the delivery and management of projects and contracts as well as getting involved with the Trust’s engineering education programmes.
He said: “I chose to study civil engineering because I am passionate about designing and building structures that not only meet functional requirements but also enhance the quality of life for the public and contribute to sustainable development.
“Working at the Rochester Bridge Trust is an ideal opportunity to see my interests and studies put into practice, and to learn from my colleagues. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge I gain during this placement to help me academically when I return to university for my final year.”
Away from work and study, Mark likes to participate in sports and music. For exercise he plays basketball, football and volleyball, while as a musician he plays the guitar and drums.