Profile

I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere in south Devon, and took up climbing from age 11 (before it was cool…). I’ve always been into video games, and my favourite game is Dark Souls, which I played when I was 15/16 and loved it. I still play games when I find the time, at the moment I’m stuck on the last boss of Silksong.

I love music and go to a lot of gigs. I had the rare privilege of seeing Chappell Roan live before she was super famous.

I also have a rare genetic condition called Marfan’s Syndrome, which is why my glasses are so thick (look up something called ectopia lentis).

Chemistry is pretty fun too, but that’s covered later on…

I’m a chemistry lecturer, so that means that I teach university students and have my own research group. I teach organic chemistry, which reacting things together to make new medicines. In my research I have robots (and PhD students) that can look at new ways of making new molecules, known as “methodology development”. These new molecules could be used in medicines or materials, but really I just like making new fun stuff.

I usually get into work around 8/8:30, have a coffee and read research papers/catch up on emails. I will go up to the lab and see how the group is doing, maybe even doing some chemistry myself! My routine changes every day, sometimes I have teaching, sometimes I am writing grant applications, sometimes I’m reading papers and thinking of new ideas. My job is very flexible and I can leave whenever I want to, which is usually 4:30pm.