Role: Senior Lecturer and UKRI Future Leaders Research Fellow
Can you introduce yourself and a bit about your background?
I am a senior lecturer and UKRI Research Fellow. I graduated from The University of Leicester in 2002 gaining an MChem with a year in Industry in Europe (Siena). I then worked at the University of Siena, Italy, for a year before returning to Leicester to complete my PhD in biological inorganic chemistry (completed 2007). I then did two postdoctoral positions: University of Liège, Belgium (2008) and Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) Grenoble, France (2009). In 2010 I joined The University of Liverpool working with Prof. Steve Rannard and Prof. Andrew Owen on Non-Attrition HAART nanoparticle therapies for HIV/AIDS Drug Delivery. In 2019 I briefly took on a Lectureship position in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at The University of Sheffield before returning to Liverpool in July 2020 having been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.
Why did you choose the University of Liverpool as your place of work?
After my contract ended in France I was living in Spain when I was looking for my next PDRA role, and Liverpool at the time had many positions open. I’m from the area (Southport) and wanted to move back towards family, plus chemistry in Liverpool is a really good department and the project looks very interesting and an opportunity to change field slightly, going from diagnostic nanomedicine to therapeutic nanomedicine.
What inspired you to choose chemistry as your field of work?
I was always interested in science in school, particularly medical sciences, and chemistry was a good fit as it sits between biology and physics. So, I pretty much found myself gravitating towards the field.
How has your educational journey shaped your approach to chemistry? (Have you always planned to pursue a career in chemistry?)
I’ve generally focused more on things I enjoy finding out about, which makes studying them much more interesting and easier. I didn’t always plan on a career in chemistry, but probably around 6th form time I started to look at it as a career option as that was about the time, I found the subject more interesting compared to other subjects. When choosing the university, I went to, I chose chemistry at Leicester primarily as it allowed me to live overseas on the Erasmus exchange programme.
What are your specific research areas?
Nanocomposite particle synthesis for medical applications, particularly medical imaging (MRI, MPI).
Are there any challenges you’ve encountered during your research, and how did you overcome them?
There have been challenges in terms of submitting applications for grants and positions etc, and dealing with the rejection you frequently get is sometimes tough to deal with. This is quite standard in academia though and most people would tell you this. The biggest challenge I faced, however, was dealing with a complex and quite sensitive situation with a former PDRA in my group, which ultimately ended with their resignation. It was highly stressful time for both myself and for my group, which was difficult as I had to balance my own feelings alongside supporting others.
What has been your biggest achievement during your career in chemistry and how did it make you feel?
Winning my UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. The success in winning that was due to the combination of career achievements along the way that led to it. Therefore, when I did win the FLF the feeling was more a sense of pride that it came from the culmination of lots of work, but also relief as it was a lot of effort and stress at that time as well.
How important is working in a diverse and inclusive environment for you, and why?
Very important. I’ve worked in several countries, which I do feel has helped shaped my working outlook as it allows you to approach problems from several perspectives. It also makes for a much more dynamic working environment being surrounded with so many different views.
How would you describe the current culture of inclusion within the Chemistry department at Liverpool?
Personally, I think it’s good. I’ve not myself experienced any issues, however I’m not naive enough to not think they exist and during my time as EDI lead, I did encounter some controversial comments in some of our survey feedbacks. I think UK academic institutes are suffering from Brexit as its now more difficult to employ PhD students and PDRAs from EU countries, and I don’t yet feel like many other countries outside the EU are starting to fill the void, with the only exception being students via XJTLU.
Is there any advice you’d offer someone wanting to pursue a career in chemistry? (Or anything you would have liked to have known before you had?)
Just to try to enjoy what you’re doing and remember that learning things should be fun! Have regular periods of self-reflection, try not to take the knocks too badly when they come, and make sure to congratulate yourself when you do achieve successes.
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