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Formal Qualifications
Academic Degrees
2020 – 2024
PhD Biology
University of York, UK
Supervisors: Dr Benjamin Lichman (Biology) & Dr William Unsworth (Chemistry)
Plant secondary metabolism, enzyme discovery, molecular biology, natural products, heterologous expression in E. coli and in planta, metabolomics, transcriptomics, chemical synthesis, isotope labelling, NMR, LC–MS.
Thesis: The biosynthesis of the Securinega alkaloids.
2016 – 2017
MSc Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management
University of Warwick, UK
Supervisor: Prof. Lorenzo Frigerio
Dissertation: Why are leaves green and not black? How can we increase photosynthetic efficiency?
2013 – 2016
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
University of Warwick, UK
First-year supervisor: Prof. Jim Beynon · Final-year supervisor: Prof. Miriam Gifford
Final-year dissertation: Genes affected by Hyaloperonospora arabidopsis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Professional
Professional Development
Science & Research
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Advanced R Programming & Data Analysis (LC–MS, XCMS, Metabolomics)
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Python Programming — University of York (8-week course)
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NMR & Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation
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Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Certification
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Institutional Biosafety & GMO Handling Certification
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Chemical Safety Training
Business & Enterprise
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NSF I-Corps — Entrepreneurial Lead — UW–Madison
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Innovation to Market / Discovery to Product — UW–Madison (8-week programme)
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Agile Project Management — Rocket Internet SE, Shanghai
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Highest Commission Sales Representative (Monthly) — Alpha Gamma Solutions, London
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Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certified — 120 hours
Outreach & Public Engagement
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Volunteer at numerous outreach science events in schools & museums
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Standing Up for Science workshop and interviewer for the John Maddox Prize 2023
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Best Speaker at multiple conferences — see Achievements
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Finalist for the Univ. of York 3-Minute Thesis competition
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Featured vlog "A day in the life of a Univ. of York PhD student"
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Featured vlog "A day in the life of a Univ. of Warwick MSc student"
Affiliations
Professional Memberships
2017–2024
The Biochemical Society, UK (link)
2021–2023
Royal Society of Chemistry, UK (link)
2021–2024
High Value Biorenewables Network, UK (link)
2024–2025
Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (link)
2023–present
Phytochemical Society of North America (link)
2023–present
American Society of Plant Biologists (link)