Erica Davison: crafting the next generation of MRI technology

From the outside, it’s easy to miss the quiet transformation happening in the labs and training centres of South Yorkshire. But inside the world of high-precision magnets, cryogenics and medical imaging, this apprentice is certainly making her mark.

Erica, an apprentice at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, works at Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology.  She splits her time between Oxford and Sheffield, balancing  academic study with hands-on experience in one of modern medicine’s most innovative fields.

“As a child, I was always taking things apart and solving problems, I just thought it was fun,” she said. That early curiosity led her into an interest in maths and science at school then towards design engineering, where she now helps develop superconducting magnets for MRI scanners, including Siemens' latest dry magnet technology. 

What sets Erica apart isn’t just her technical ability - though she’s quickly gained confidence in computer-aided design (CAD) systems and even completed cryogenics training to support her role -  it is her purpose. 

A pandemic-era decision to pursue healthcare engineering wasn’t made lightly.

"During COVID, when applying for an apprenticeship, it was clear to see the challenges facing the NHS,” she said. “I realised I didn’t just want to study, I wanted to build a meaningful career. I became increasingly interested in healthcare technology and innovation, which felt both impactful and rewarding."

That desire led her away from more traditional academic routes, with her opting for an apprenticeship despite having received offers from some of the most prestigious universities, including Cambridge. She said:“I didn’t want to just learn theory. I wanted to see how it worked in the real world. I’ve never regretted that choice.”

At Siemens Healthineers, Erica is immersed in the kind of cross-functional collaboration most people don’t experience until much later in their careers. One day she can be building prototypes with technicians and the next she could be liaising with finance teams or visiting suppliers.

“I think that’s something people underestimate about engineering, how much of it is about people,” she said.. “You’re not just sitting at a desk solving equations. You’re talking, learning, adapting and collaborating. You’re part of a bigger system.”

The AMRC Training Centre, too, has played a pivotal role for Erica. Lecturers tailor modules to fit their students’ actual work environments — and for Erica a thermodynamics course was adjusted to focus on refrigeration and heat exchangers because it aligned with her cryogenics work.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. They take time to understand where you are and where you’re going,” she said.

And while she is winning awards - she was recently named Engineer of the Year at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards - Erica is also clear about the importance of gender representation in the industry.

“I don’t talk about being a woman in engineering every day because at the AMRC Training Centre, it doesn’t feel like something unusual. But I know how important it was for me to see other women doing it. That changes everything.”

From her chemistry teacher in school to the female lecturers she works with now at the training centre, those early influences have helped form her confidence. Now, she’s quietly becoming that figure for others.

If you ask  Erica about her achievements to date, she is not short of a few, and can point to some standout moments such as her win at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards to component she helped design included in Siemens’ upcoming MRI system.

There’s also a quieter pride in the everyday things, like leading the Friday 5K team run at work and becoming more confident in corporate administration tasks, such as managing projects and booking meetings.  

She said: “I’ve learned I’m more resilient than I thought. I’ve also learned I enjoy working with others more than I thought. An apprenticeship shows you how to be part of something bigger.”

Erica said that in five years, she sees herself still at Siemens, but with greater responsibility, knowledge and expertise. She’s already looking at further upskilling through structured problem-solving courses and leadership development.

“It’s ever-changing. You never stop learning,” she said. “That’s the best part.”

In a world that’s crying out for practical, future-facing solutions, Erica represents a new generation of engineers: grounded, ambitious and quietly but courageously changing the story of what engineering can be.