Naneena Suresh

Project: Understanding, and high-throughput development, of the formulation of spray coating solutions for industrial applications 

Supervisors: Matt Rosseinsky, Frederic Blanc, Troy Manning

Industry Partner: NSG

What inspired you to pursue this project and join the DAMC CDT?

My interest in chemistry has always been driven by its ability to translate fundamental science into real-world solutions. During my postgraduate studies in chemistry, I developed a strong foundation in materials chemistry and electrochemical analysis, which sparked my interest in understanding how molecular design and processing influence material performance. After completing my postgraduate degree, I worked as Research Associate in Saint Gobain Research India (R&D), contributing to the development and optimisation of advanced material systems. This experience strengthened my appreciation for how chemistry moves from laboratory research to functional products while also highlighting the importance of predictive understanding in accelerating innovation. 

I was particularly drawn to the DAMC CDT because of its forward-looking approach to materials discovery. The integration of automation, digital workflows and interdisciplinary collaboration offers a powerful framework for accelerating research. The CDT’s cohort-based structure and strong industry engagement create an environment where fundamental understanding and real-world impact can develop in parallel, which aligns closely with my research aspirations.

What is your research project about, and what impact do you hope it will have?

My research focuses on understanding and optimizing the processing-structure-property relationship in advanced functional materials. By integrating experimental characterisation with data-driven methodologies, I hope to create better predictive strategies for material design and formulation. My research focuses on how synthesis parameters and processing conditions influence microstructure, stability and performance. Through improved characterization and methodical experimentation, I hope to obtain mechanistic knowledge that might inform scalable and sustainable material creation. Finally, I hope my research helps to accelerate the discovery and optimization of high-performance materials, particularly for energy and environmental applications. By combining automation and digital techniques, the initiative promotes more efficient, reproducible and industry-relevant material innovation.

What has been the most exciting or rewarding part of your PhD journey so far and how does your project benefit from being part of an interdisciplinary CDT?  

The most exciting part of my PhD journey so far has been developing a deeper mechanistic understanding of how processing conditions influence material structure and performance. Seeing how small experimental changes translate into measurable differences in properties has been particularly rewarding, as it reinforces the importance of systematic and well-designed experimentation. Being part of the DAMC CDT significantly enhances my project through its interdisciplinary environment. The integration of chemistry, data science, automation and engineering enables me to approach research questions more holistically. Access to shared expertise, digital tools and collaborative problem-solving frameworks strengthens both the efficiency and impact of my work. The cohort-based structure also encourages knowledge exchange which broadens my perspective and helps position my research within a wider technological context.