What were you doing before joining the CDT?

I completed my year in industry at STFC in August 2021 as part of my integrated MChem at Southampton. Since then I have taken the year to travel and worked for NHS Admin where I was able to further enhance my soft skills.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Semi-Hydrogenation Catalysis with Zn

I chose this programme as I am interested in the multidisciplinary aspect to combine chemical engineering and chemistry and the research facilities such as ROAR are especially interesting.

I chose this project as I am very interested in catalysis and am passionate about Green chemistry having tailored previous research projects to focus on Green chemistry. I have also missed synthesis since finishing my degree and this project has strong synthesis aspect!

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am looking forward to undertaking the modules in new areas such as the data analytics. Also meeting new people and getting to know the cohort!

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I enjoy cooking, especially trying new cuisines. If I was an animal I would be a panda because I love to sleep!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Completing my undergraduate studies.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Generation of Nitrous oxide (N2O, ‘laughing gas’) in a Flow Reactor (funded by BASF)

Because I enjoyed reaction engineering and reactor design. As well, I enjoyed conducting research. Thus this project seemed suitable as I can do both of these and learn new research skills a long the way.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

Squirrel. - I can be quite hyperactive at points - And I am fairly forgetful.

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Before joining the CDT, I was doing my MEng Chemical Engineering degree at University College London. My master’s project was working on using Artificial Neural Networks to help clinicians to predict the future status of cirrhosis patients.  

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Accelerated Development of Cat@MOF catalysts for Industrially Relevant Hydrogenation

The CDT programmes offer an extra master’s year, which gives me more time to look into my project while gaining and developing new skills. The White City Campus also offers a varied range of different tools and facilities that are state of the art. The connections between industry and academia would also help to direct me in my future career. Moreover, the CDT students are in cohorts meaning that I will have opportunities to talk to many PhD students who are not in the same research group. I think it would be a really great experience.

I came across the topic of Metal-Organic Frameworks in one of my master’s module where our team were trying to develop a high-efficiency termite mount-inspired carbon capture system to compete with the current amine-based absorption carbon capture. MOF came in when finding a suitable material as the adsorbent. While reading research papers, I was very interested in this topic, and it shows great potential in solving many of the problems that we now face. For my PhD projects, I will be working on the synthesis and development of Cat@MOF catalyst for Industrially relevant hydrogenation.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I really look forward to working in the labs at the white city campus, as many lab opportunities were cancelled during my undergraduate study due to the pandemic. It would be great to be back in the lab again, working with world-class experts. I also look forward to the coding modules in the first year to advance my skills, particularly in python. 

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I am an extreme sports lover. My favourite sport is skiing. If I could choose to be an animal, I would choose to be a wolf. They are highly intelligent animals and devoted to their family through sickness and health. And they look awesome!!!!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

I was working in the Netherlands as a Research Chemistry developing new psychedelic drugs. 

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Sustainable CO2 utilization as a reagent for commodity chemicals (funded by BASF)

I chose the CDT programme as it offers a wide range of teaching across interesting topics which will make me a better chemist and more prepared for the rapidly changing landscape of industrial chemistry. 

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am most looking forward to meeting new people and collaborating on projects as we all learn valuable new skills. 

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I would choose to be an octopus because they are very smart and capable of problem-solving plus they can hold lots of stuff which would be very handy - or tentacly in this case!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Before joining the CDT, I was working in Barclays Wealth Management for two years. Prior to that, I did a MSci degree in Chemistry at Imperial.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: One fibre to rule them all: massively parallel fibre-optic sensors to capture chemical system information

I applied to the CDT programme to get back and involved in innovative research - in particular the interdisciplinary nature of Chemistry, Engineering and Data Science present on the CDT. The structure and support network of the CDT was also a really big pull.

I chose my project because previously in my undergrad, I worked on Digital Chemistry for my Master's thesis, working on implementing automation into a microfluidic platform. This project has also supports the age of Digital Chemistry with the aim of developing an all-optical analytical sensing platform with real-time monitoring.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am really looking forward to working with top researchers from a range of backgrounds to try and address some of the synthetic challenges that the industry is facing. I also am excited to learn more about data science and implementing it into my research.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I am from Manchester originally and love watching football (United fan). I also love music and binging TV/films. If I could be an animal, I would be a koala because I like their lifestyle of eating (a lot), sleeping and keeping it chill!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

I was finishing my final year of the undergraduate course in Chemical Engineering at Imperial. 

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: An interpretable AI framework for chemical retrosynthesis

I am intrigued by the interplay between chemical engineering, data science and chemistry. Nowadays, data is available in mass both in chemical industry and the lab but not many people know how to handle and interpret them. The CDT addresses this particular issue and I am excited to learn more about it.

My project ("An interpretable AI framework for chemical retrosynthesis") sits at this intersection of these disciplines and that is why I chose it.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am really looking forward to meeting the students of the different cohorts as well as the research groups I will be joining. I hope I will be able to collaborate on and exchange ideas for various research problems. I am also looking forward to getting a better insight into the facilities at the Molecular Sciences Research Hub.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I enjoy spending time in an active way such as going for hikes, swimming, bouldering and cycling. Suprisingly, I like bicycle maintenance as much as cycling, sometimes maybe more because it is not as tiring.

If I could choose to be an animal I would choose to be a sea turtle becasue I would be able to swim through the nice blue waters of the ocean for just miles and miles.

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

I had finished my year in industry at Diamond Light Source in September 2021 as the final year of my integrated masters. I took some time to take a break and travel, finishing university during a parade mic called for a reset! After this I went back to NHS Admin in Cancer and Haematology where I was now to work on my soft skills whilst applying for the CDT.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: 3D printed scaffolds for catalytic hydrogenation reactions in flow

The linking of engineering and chemistry interested me to apply to the CDT as I have a purely chemistry background. The modules and group working to learn with others as a cohort was what drew me in further.

I am familiar with support materials having synthesised alumina supports in my year in industry. As this was only a year I didn’t get the chance to work on the catalysts, this project will allow me to use the knowledge I have and develop it further in terms of catalysis. Similarly the 3D printing and flow chemistry are new to me so I’m excited to venture out!

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I’m excited to get back into the lab and also get out of my comfort zone trying new things such as learning Python as well as working with students from different backgrounds.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I enjoy cooking and baking especially making up my own recipes. I’d be a sea otter so I can float around and eat 25% of my body weight in food!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

I was completing my undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the University of Bath. I was working mainly in polymer science, specifically on monitoring polymerisations using FlowNMR, which peaked my interest in flow chemistry.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Heat Integration through Alkoxylation in Flow (funded by BASF)

The cohort aspect of the programme was definitely what attracted me most. Being able to go through the process with people in the same boat really adds so much to the experience. My project is a combination of two things I am interested in, polymerisation and flow chemistry, and is therefore great research for me. This project also dives into chemical engineering, which will also add a new string to bow.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

Having recently attended my first industrial conference, I would say the opportunity to attend and network at more events. Events like these contextualise the work we do and puts emphasis on the real world requirements, which is totally different from anything you would experience at undergraduate.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I would choose a duck. Quite a subtle option unlike the obvious tiger or bear, but spending time swimming about effortlessly would be fun, they also have practical uses as they lay eggs, and of course can fly. 

What were you doing before joining the CDT? 

I was working as a full time employee in P&G.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Sustainable manufacturing of platform chemicals from biomass

Because it looked like a great programme to do a PhD in, and the projects offered looked really interesting. I chose my project in particular because I liked the topic and the supervisors.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

Learning a lot, developing new skills, meeting new people.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

A dolphin, because they are super intelligent and social and they have the whole sea to swim!

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Before joining the CDT, I was completing my MChem at the University of Manchester. My final year project involved the integration of biocatalysis with chemocatalysis for more sustainable amide bond formation.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: A combined experimental and computational approach for the rational synthesis of rotaxanes as ‘smart’ drug delivery systems

I was attracted to the CDT as I believed that it would allow me to develop my skillset whilst working at the cutting edge of next-generation synthetic methodologies to combat real-world issues.

I was drawn to my project as the concept of controlling a drug's site of delivery is exciting and, if successful, could be genuinely groundbreaking. Countless drug candidates fail to make it through development because of off-target toxicity, and many drugs that people take now for diseases such as cancer cause severe side effects because of the same problem. This research could help to tackle this issue and potentially contribute to improving people's lives, and I want to be a part of that.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am excited to be a part of the interdisciplinary nature of the CDT, learning new skills and developing ways of thinking beyond that of my undergraduate degree. From this I hope to become a more multi-faceted scientist, and that I will be able to integrate these ideas into my research.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

My main hobbies include watching football, staying active and spending time at the pub – the good thing about these is that two can be performed at the same time!

If I could be an animal I would be a sloth, because I really hate being rushed.

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Before joining the CDT I was studying for my undergraduate (MSci) Chemistry degree at Imperial College London.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Porous Liquids for Catalysis

My project focuses on different approaches of applying porous liquids, a novel porous material, to organic synthesis and catalysis. I chose it as I believe it will allow me to develop a modern, fresh perspective on my previous traditional organic chemistry experience.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Before joining the CDT I was studying for a Master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh with an industrial placement at Johnson Matthey in my final year.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project Title: Machine-Learning-Driven Synthesis of the Next Generation Carbon Dots with Tunable Fluorescence/Band-Gap

I chose to apply to the CDT programme because its aim to educate researchers with a multidiscplinary set of skills to tackle future research challenges aligned well with my goals. I believe developing competency not only in the field of chemistry but also in topics such as data science is important for impactful research in this field. I applied for my project because it bridges chemistry and data science in the development of new materials which is something I am very interested in and wanted to pursue.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

I am really looking forward to meeting the students of the different cohorts as well as the research groups I will be joining. I hope I will be able to collaborate on and exchange ideas for various research problems. I am also looking forward to getting a better insight into the facilities at the Molecular Sciences Research Hub.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

I enjoy spending time in an active way such as going for hikes, swimming, bouldering and cycling. Suprisingly, I like bicycle maintenance as much as cycling, sometimes maybe more because it is not as tiring. If I could choose to be an animal I would choose to be a sea turtle becasue I would be able to swim through the nice blue waters of the ocean for just miles and miles.

What were you doing before joining the CDT?

Prior to joining the CDT I was working at a world leading pharmaceutical company based in Macclesfield. Working as an analytical specialist meant that I was responsible for the final clearance of drug products for use in late stages of clinical trials.

Why did you choose to apply to the CDT programme and in particular your project?

Project title: Photochemical Carbonylation and Hydroformylation (funded by BASF)

My prior research experience has always been closely related to the field of catalysis. During my industrial placement and my final master's project, I found a great level of depth in this area and it encouraged me to pursue an MRes and PhD qualification. The CDT programme endeavours to push the boundaries of technological advancement through group learning and interdisciplinary training. Both of these factors made the programme stand out as the perfect platform for me to further my learning and complete research on the forefront of science.

What are you looking forward the most within the CDT programme?

The opportunity to engage with all of the disciplines offered and integrate them into my broader project. For my project in particular I will be developing my engineering skills to aid me in building a bespoke flow reactor. In addition I will be utilising my data analytic skills to aid in the understanding of chemical reactivity, especially where there are opportunities to work with the ROAR facility.

A little bit about yourself, if you could choose to be an animal, what would it be and why?

Simple as it may be, I have been told numerous time that I give off so-called 'Labrador Energy'. For me, a domesticated dog's life is one of luxury; regular food with no work; lots of playing and fun. Sign me up!