Profile
Jules Oriou
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About Me:
I live on the Wirral (near Liverpool) with my wife, two daughters and our dog. I was born and grew up in France but moved to the UK 10 years ago.
During the week I am a chemical researcher for a big company, and on the weekends I enjoy the outdoors, or if the weather is really bad I love a good boardgame or a science-fiction book!
Out with my dog Banxy.
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My wife is from the Czech Republic so we speak 3 languages at home: English, Czech and French. I learned a bit of Czech but my English is definitely better!
Before moving to the UK, I travelled across Europe in a campervan for 10 months. I visited 10 different countries and climbed on many mountains.
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My pronouns are:
He/Him
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How I use Science in my work:
I use my knowledge in Chemistry to create the recipe for new products like shampoo. Knowing how the different ingredients interact together is important to develop the right product.
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My Work:
I am a formulation chemist for a big company called Unilever, which makes everyday products like shampoo, laundry capsules or deodorant.
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Formulation is the science of mixing ingredients to make a product. If you look at the back of a shampoo bottle you will find a long list of ingredients (usually in very small prints). All these ingredients need to be carefully selected and mixed in a certain way, otherwise you will end up with something that does not look like a shampoo at all. A little bit like a recipe for a cake: if you choose the wrong ingredients, or in the wrong amount and don’t bake them properly you won’t get a cake.
To do this I need to use my knowledge in chemistry and work in a laboratory, mixing ingredients and measuring different aspects of the products I make. Once I find a recipe that I am happy with, I give it to my colleagues in the factory and they make it in very big amounts to then send it to supermarkets all across the world.
Developing a new product in the lab.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and get my oldest daughter up as well. We feed the dog, have breakfast and I drop her off at school before arriving to work a bit before 9AM. Usually I start by looking at my emails and calendar to plan my day, and then I go to the lab to start experiments. I have lunch with my colleagues, and in the afternoon go back to the lab to finish my experiments. Often I will have meetings throughout the day to discuss results or next steps for our work, but that’s OK since my experiments can run for several hours so there is a lot of waiting time. I normally finish work and go home around 5PM.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use the prize money to arrange a school trip to the Science museum for my daughter’s school.
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Education:
I went to public primary and secondary schools in my hometown in France, Bordeaux. After that I went to a training school for architects as I thought this is the job I wanted to do, but by the end of the first year I realised I was wrong. I then went to the University of Bordeaux to study Chemistry because I found it interesting, and I graduated with 3 degrees from there (Bachelor, Master and Doctorate).
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Qualifications:
I passed the French equivalent of GCSE and then A-levels. After that I got three degrees in chemistry: Bachelor, Master and Doctorate (so I am a doctor, but not a medical one).
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Work History:
After University I did a gap year (when I travelled across Europe), and when I came back I found my first job at Unilever.
At first I was a formulation scientist in hair conditioners, then I moved to shampoos and 7 years ago I got promoted to a manager role. Now I spend a bit less time in the lab than I used to.
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Current Job:
Today I am a research manager at Unilever, doing research mainly in shampoo products.
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Employer:
My employer is Unilever. It is a (very) big company that makes everyday products found in supermarkets from shower gels to dishwashing liquid and even ketchup! They sell their products under different brand names, like Dove or Hellman’s. You probably have some of them at home.
Since it is such a big company they have many different places to work across the world. I work in their biggest Research and Development Centre in the UK, which is based in Port Sunlight on the Wirral.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Rock-climbing chemist
What did you want to be after you left school?
An architect
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would probably be a teacher
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Ezra collective (jazz) - but my favourite style of music changes quite often!
What's your favourite food?
Canele. It's a typical pastry from my hometown in France, Bordeaux.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Be able to speak every language in the world, travel whenever I want and be able to play any musical instrument.
Tell us a joke.
I completed my first jigsaw the other day. I was really proud of myself: it only took me 6 months whereas the box said 3 to 5 years!
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