After graduation from the University of Cambridge in 1994, Dr Symons was first employed as a structural engineer by Buro Happold Consulting Engineers. He moved to the University of Oxford to carry out research supported by Rolls-Royce Plc. and was awarded a D.Phil. in 1998 for work on composite materials. He returned to industry to work for Cambridge Consultants Ltd., and later Weston Medical Plc., on the design and development of medical devices before becoming a University Lecturer in 2002

Dr Symons is interested in the appropriate application of engineering science in the design of products. His technical areas of work have included solid/structural, fluid and particulate mechanics, including multi-phase flows. He particular enjoys collaborations with industry and has carried out research aiming to improve design processes in the fields of: centrifugal separators, medical devices (e.g. drug inhalers and injectors), timber construction, renewable energy, lattice materials and sports engineering.