“I was supported by the Learning and Development Centre in becoming a Chartered Scientist (CSci) – my proudest moment at Imperial so far.”
I began my career at the University of Birmingham in 2011, where I studied for a degree in Chemistry with Pharmacology. Shortly afterwards, I completed a MRes in Environmental Nanoscience, investigating the potential impact of manufactured nanomaterials on the environment and a PhD in synthetic and analytical chemistry, devising new nanosensor materials to make pH measurements in micro-environments.
On completion of my PhD, I worked as a project coordinator for a large project aiming to better understand the links between urban air pollution and human health in Beijing, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. I enjoyed the work but found I missed the teaching role I’d had during my PhD and the connection to the laboratory environment. So, I dusted off my lab coat and took up the position of Senior Technician and Skills Instructor at Coventry University, teaching analytical and synthetic chemistry to students on a variety of undergraduate and masters courses.
In May 2018, I joined Imperial as the Teaching Laboratory Manager in the Department of Chemistry, leading a team of seven excellent teaching technicians to organise and support the delivery of practical chemistry in our busy teaching laboratories. It’s a challenging but incredibly varied and rewarding role which involves everything from developing practical experiments, purchasing instrumentation, managing budgets, all the way through to disposal of hazardous waste and clearing out legacy equipment.
It’s been an exciting time to be part of the team here in Chemistry, which has recently completed the move of its research facilities to the White City Campus and is now implementing the first year of the new undergraduate curriculum. It has also been an exciting time be a part of technical services here at Imperial, with the enthusiasm that has been behind the Science Council’s Technician Commitment. As part of the commitment, I was supported by the Learning and Development Centre in gaining professional registration, resulting in becoming a Chartered Scientist (CSci) – my proudest moment at Imperial so far.