Experience

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  Evove

  • Daresbury, England, United Kingdom

  • Customer Success Manager

    • Jul 2023 - Present
    • Daresbury, England, United Kingdom

    • Manage our portfolio of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) accounts and commercial projects.• Business development and business engagement activities.• Manage lab team to deliver work packages.• Project initiation and scoping activities.• Project management and resource planning.

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  ReCon2 Ltd

  • Manchester, England, United Kingdom

  • R&D Manager

    • Feb 2022 - Jun 2023
    • Manchester, England, United Kingdom

    • Underpinned development of a novel methodology for quantifying recycled content in plastics using fluorescent markers.• Spearheaded company business development activities. Delivered pitches, prepared reports, stakeholder engagement, etc.• Secured £250,000+ in research contract funding from 6 key industry sponsors for technology scale-up and commercialisation. Signed-on a further 14 companies as technology advisers and supporters to further knowledge exchange.• Project manager for our research contract portfolio, and lead technical expert for pilot-scale technology trials with sponsors.• Line manager, HR duties and payroll for our company’s analytical scientist employee.• Responsible for day-to-day operations, including procurement, planning, contract negotiation, health and safety, etc.

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  The University of Manchester

  • United Kingdom
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Research Fellow

    • Apr 2021 - Jun 2023

    • Planned, coordinated, and implemented polymer R&D projects in our state-of-the art laboratories through leading our 10-person multidisciplinary team.• Engaged with clients to discuss work package scope, timelines, and resource management, whilst factoring in specific business objectives and challenges. Underpinned the successful delivery of more than 80 state-aid projects with SMEs worth £850,000+.• Led workshops and consultancy sessions, prepared technical and summary reports, undertook site visits, and presented key results to external clients, stakeholders, and technical experts.• Secured £130,000+ of competitive research funding, prizes, and awards. E.g. Royce ICP funding, Best Outstanding Contribution to Research Impact 2022 Award, RSC Emerging Technologies Competition Finalist, etc.• Presenter and invited speaker at numerous conferences, webinars, panel discussions, and events.• Gained in-depth knowledge of sustainability principles and their practical application to solve business challenges.• Senior leadership role within wider research team. Supported / coached colleagues to develop and translate research outputs.

  • Polymer Composite Chemist (KTP Associate)

    • May 2019 - Apr 2021

    • Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project developing sustainable water-based adhesive resins for building insulation products with industry partner Superglass Insulation Ltd.• Optimised resin chemistry and formulations through systematic lab studies and on-site pilot trials. Extensive method development screening product performance and safety criteria. Successful formulation trialled in a new line of insulation products.• Assumed a leadership role and worked autonomously. Worked on-site with engineers and technical experts from all areas of the business to exchange knowledge.• High level project timeline, budget, and resource management. Routinely delivered presentations and prepared summary and technical reports to communicate key objectives and results with stakeholders.• Completed several formal qualifications in project management (e.g. PRINCE2®).

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  University of Nottingham

  • School of Chemistry, Nottingham, UK

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate

    • Feb 2016 - May 2019
    • School of Chemistry, Nottingham, UK

    • Investigated metal oxide microparticles as photo-catalysts and battery electrodes. Later sponsored by L'Oréal to develop and optimise bio-based polymers for improving the safety and sustainability of cosmetic formulations.• Gained expertise in high-pressure chemistry, sol-gel chemistry, polymer synthesis, green chemistry principles, in-depth characterisation of nanostructured materials, and use of numerous characterisation and analytical techniques.• Day-to-day operation of the Howdle research laboratory. Reinforced workplace camaraderie, collaborated with industry partners and research groups, oversaw laboratory safety and training, procurement, instrument and equipment maintenance.• Published 11 research articles in leading materials and chemistry journals. Presented at national and international conferences.• Mentored and supervised PhD, Masters and Erasmus/Undergraduate students.• Awarded a competitive £5,750 research grant from the University’s Partnered Access Fund for research collaboration.

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  The University of Queensland

  • Queensland, Australia

  • Chemistry Tutor/Laboratory Demonstrator

    • 2011 - 2015
    • Queensland, Australia

    • Delivered practical laboratory classes, tutorials, and workshop sessions in chemistry and materials science.• Co-developed, implemented, and taught a 3rd year practical course on synthetic polymer chemistry principles.

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  Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology AIBN

  • Queensland, Australia

  • Research Assistant (Full time)

    • Nov 2011 - Mar 2012
    • Queensland, Australia

    • Short commercial research project on branched fluorinated polymers in collaboration with industry, while based at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).