
EXPERIENCE
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER,
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Postdoctoral researcher in Kirsty Wan's research group at the Living Systems Institute. Studying locomotor behaviours of microswimmers using high-speed microscopy, micromanipulation, electrophysiology, computer vision and data analysis techniques.
May 2020 - Present
SUPERVISOR,
UCL
March 2020 - August 2024
Research thesis supervisor for the Bio-Integrated Design Master's Program, which is run jointly by UCL's Biochemical Engineering Department and The Bartlett School of Architecture. Student projects:
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2024: Xiaomeng Fang. 'Investigating the effects of cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances on its growth, for use in pattern creation.'
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2023. Isik Ogutcu. 'Developing a biofilm a simulation tool for bioreceptive design.'
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2021. Philia Yi Sian Chua. 'Nickel Bioremediation Efficiency of Immobilized Live Chlorella vulgaris Across Repeated Hydration and Dehydration of Hydrogels.'
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2020. Prantar Mahanta Tamuli. 'Development of computational tools for bio-design application of filamentous cyanobacteria.'
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION,
THE NAKED SCIENTISTS
November 2018 - January 2019
The Naked Scientists are a team of science radio and podcasting professionals who make engineering, science and technology radio programmes for broadcasters internationally, including BBC 5 live and ABC Radio National Australia. They also publish a multi-award-winning podcast.
I joined the team for an internship placement, during which I created content for national and international radio broadcast, interviewed leading scientists publishing new discoveries in the world's best science journals and wrote accessible engineering and science articles. Additionally, I produced a show called 'Microbes: From Farm to Fork', which was broadcast internationally.
CONSULTANT,
DEVELOPMENT I-TEAMS
May 2018 - June 2018
i-Teams brings together students and researchers to develop commercially viable strategies and build university-industry links. Development i-Teams is organised in partnership with the Centre for Global Equality and aims to investigate how new innovations can be used to improve people’s lives in the developing world in a sustainable way.
The project I was involved with was exploring the potential of technologies used by the British Antarctic Survey for application to plastic pollution monitoring around coastlines. During the project we performed literature reviews and spoke to industry experts and academics to gain an understanding of the potential avenues for the technology with a focus on, but not limited to, developing island nations.
MEMBER,
HOMEWARD BOUND
2018
I was among 78 women in STEMM selected for the 2018 Homeward Bound program and Antarctic voyage. Homeward Bound is a groundbreaking leadership, strategic and science initiative for women, set against the backdrop of Antarctica. It is building a global network of 1000 women in STEMM with the aim to influence policy and decision making as it shapes our planet. It has been an incredible experience to witness the stunning, majestic, tranquil and powerful wilderness of Antarctica. With these surroundings we explored leadership ideas, went 'deep-diving' to better understand ourselves and discussed global challenges in a collaborative and nurturing space. It was a privilege to travel to Antarctica and particularly to be there together with the strong, inspiring, committed and compassionate women in science of Homeward Bound and supported by a brilliant team of experts in leadership, strategy, visibility and Antarctic science.
TEACHING,
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Supervisor: small group teaching for undergraduate courses in physical and theoretical Chemistry.
Demonstrator: designed and ran a confocal microscopy practical for MRes students.
2015 - 2017
RESEARCH ASSISTANT,
OPERATION WALLACEA
Data collection for biodiversity and conservation field research in forest and marine environments.
I worked with research scientists and dissertation students as part of an international network of students and academics to carry out field research in remote locations both on land and in the ocean.
July 2012 - August 2012
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EDUCATION
PHD,
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
October 2015 - June 2019
Subject: Biophysics and Microbial Ecology.
Thesis title: “Experimental and theoretical study of carbon dynamics in an algal-bacterial co-culture”. During my PhD I explored the symbiotic interactions between algae and bacteria, which are important for Earth's ecosystems and nutrient cycles. By combining experimental and theoretical approaches I investigated the intertwined growth and nutrient dynamics in an algal-bacterial co-culture. This enabled me to develop and test a mathematical model of the carbon exchange between a vitamin dependent alga and a vitamin producing bacterium.
NANO DTC,
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
2014-2015
Interdisciplinary programme including courses on characterisation techniques, nanofabrication and nanomaterials, as well as projects on science communication in media and business. Additionally, the degree involved three research projects:
- Titanium Dioxide Deposition for Back-Contact Perovskite Solar Cells
- Does Chemistry-Driven Buckling Generate Diffraction Gratings on Flower Petals?
- Detecting and Profiling Vitamin B12 using Nanophotonics and Genetically Modified Algae
MSC NATURAL SCIENCE,
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
2010-2014
1st year: Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Mathematics.
2nd year: Chemistry and Materials Science.
3rd year (BA) and 4th year (MSci): Chemistry.
MSci research project: ‘Inorganic Oxide Materials for Carbon Capture’.
Activities and Societies: College Representative, Alumni Relations and Publicity Officer for RAG (the university Raising and Giving society). Performed with university ballet and contemporary dance societies.