I am a postdoctoral research chemist at the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at the University of Manchester, where I focus on designing and advancing sustainable, environment-responsive polymeric materials. My research addresses the urgent need for eco-friendly innovations by developing adaptive polymers—such as pH-responsive gels, biodegradable polymers, and polymer-drug conjugates—that can support sustainable solutions in areas like water purification, targeted therapeutics, and environmentally responsible formulations. 

Beyond materials innovation, I am committed to fostering sustainability within lab-based research environments, leading multiple initiatives to implement and quantify more sustainable lab practices across the faculty. Recognized with the Making a Difference Award in Social Responsibility in 2023, I am deeply invested in making sustainability integral to both scientific innovation and daily research practices, driving impactful change through collaborative, accessible, and practical approaches to sustainable science.

My journey in chemistry began with an undergraduate master’s degree at the University of Reading, which included a year in industry at Johnson Matthey working in Fuel Cell R&D. This experience sparked my interest in applied chemistry and sustainable innovation. Motivated by the connection between chemistry and human health, I completed a PhD at University College London, where I researched polymeric pharmaceutics for controlled pharmaceutical release, aimed at enhancing drug efficacy and tolerability. During this time, I collaborated with United Therapeutics in Maryland, USA, further solidifying my interest in materials designed for healthcare applications. Subsequently, I joined Vianautis, where I studied polymeric self-assembly and targeting for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, giving me insight into the complexities of polymer design for healthcare.

Driven by a desire to push sustainable materials innovation further and increase teaching opportunities, I transitioned to the University of Manchester. Here, I work within the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, collaborating with Unilever on reactive polymers for controlled degradation in formulations, and I have established my own research collaborations focused on making lab-based research more sustainable. Since 2019, I have been helping labs adopt sustainable practices, culminating in leading efforts to achieve the first gold LEAF accreditation at UoM

My current research focuses on creating and characterizing environment-responsive polymers with applications across healthcare, water purification, and sustainable consumer products. I am particularly interested in pH-responsive gels, disease-labile polymer-drug conjugates, self-assembling nanomedicines for tissue-specific targeting, and biodegradable polymers for liquid formulations. This work involves monomer design, polymer synthesis, and testing of material properties using techniques such as rheology to examine polymer interactions and stability.

Throughout my career, I have collaborated with various industries and institutions, gaining insights into the challenges of operationalizing sustainable materials, including cost, scalability, and user adoption. My research also includes a dedicated focus on sustainability within lab practices, where I lead multiple initiatives to quantify and enhance sustainable lab methodologies. With projects encompassing sustainable solvent identification, environment-responsive polymers, and degradable personal care polymers, I remain passionate about advancing impactful, eco-conscious solutions that resonate with industry, research, and the broader community.