9 Dec 2011
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career
in science?
I always felt the drive to understand why things are
the way they are. So many things can be explained
by chemistry - the way our bodies work, cooking,
medicines, love, electronics... I knew I had to study
chemistry and I never regretted my decision!
What is your research topic?
My research is concerned with the calcium
carbonate surface in contact with water and oil.
The interface is important in many academic
and industrial areas, not least biomineralisation
or scale deposition in domestic and industrial
situations. I study how organic compounds behave
at the interface and how we can influence the
behaviour.
What is innovative about your most recent
research project?
I use the technique of neutron reflection to
investigate interactions at this important interface.
Neutron reflection provides molecular resolution of
surface structures. This has never been achieved
before on calcium carbonate and comes with
many challenges, like surface dissolution, which
can have a detrimental effect on the experiment.
Our success allows us not only to investigate the
calcium carbonate - liquid interface, but also
many other important mineral surfaces.
Are there any potential applications or any
competitive advantages for industry as a
result of your research?
Our expertise on the behaviour of calcium
carbonate in contact with water will hopefully help
in the development of anti-scaling agents. While
scale deposition in a domestic household can be
bothersome it is very costly on an industrial scale
and all efforts need to be made to prevent it.
Has this work led your group to any other
promising research?
Our achievement of the characterisation of the
carbonate surface by neutron reflection has led
us to consider several other mineral and metal
surfaces using a similar approach.
What have been your proudest achievements
so far?
Academically, my greatest success, by far, was
the application of the outstanding technique
of neutron reflection to the calcium carbonate
surface. On an extra-curricular level I am proud of
having revived the Cambridge University Chemical
Society. This student society was previously
dormant but attendance to our weekly events was
constantly increasing under my presidency.
What is the next milestone in your career?
I am planning to finish my postgraduate studies
in spring 2012 and am looking forward to new
challenges in an industrial career.
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