Eventbrite Link: s4s-careers2-190821.eventbrite.co.uk

Description: 
This event is part of the virtual Skills 4 Scientists series run by the Artificial Intelligence for Scientific Discovery Network+ (AI3SD) and the Physical Sciences Data-Science Service (PSDS). This session will provide insight into potential different career paths, including a panel session with ECRs talking about their different careers and a discussion on what the long term career of a chemist can look like.

Who is this event for?
This series of virtual events is primarily aimed at late stage undergraduate or early stage postgraduate students who are studying a physical sciences subject. However, it is open to any attendees who wish to join if the subject matter is of interest to you! Please note though that many of the examples will be based around chemistry / physical sciences subject matter.

Pre-requisites:
This course has no pre-requisites

Agenda:

• 2:00-2:10: Welcome
• 2:10-3:00: Panel Session with ECRs
• 3:00-3:10: Coffee Break
• 3:10-4:10: A Career in Chemistry & Beyond – Kevin Parker
• 4:10-4:20: Coffee Break
• 4:20-5:00: Q+A

Speaker Bios

• Dr Jennifer Hiscock obtained her PhD from the University of Southampton (UK) under the supervision of Prof. Philip A. Gale in 2010 studying supramolecular host:guest chemistry. She continued her post-doctoral research between this group and Dstl (Porton Down – UK) until 2015 when she moved to the University of Kent (UK) as the Caldin research fellow. In 2016 she was awarded a permanent lectureship position at that same institution, which has since been followed by her promotion to Reader in Supramolecular Chemistry and Director of Innovation and Enterprise for the School of Physical Sciences in 2019. In 2020 she was awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, developing novel cell surface active therapeutics and drug adjuvants. Her research currently focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to applying supramolecular chemistry to solve real-world problems.
• Dr Jo Grundy graduated from Exeter University with a BSc in Chemistry in 1996, qualified as a teacher with a PGCE from Durham University then taught at Varndean School for a couple of years in Brighton, before doing an MSc in 1999, then DPhil in Organometallic chemistry at Sussex University. Between 2004 and 2006 I worked with Prof. Mathey at UC Riverside, before coming back to teach at a school in Duisburg Germany. I returned to the UK and taught chemistry and maths to A level, at Farnborough Sixth Form, then the Isle of Wight College, Barton Peveril and Itchen College. In 2018, did a second MSc in Artificial Intelligence at Southampton University, then worked as a Teaching Fellow in Computer Science for a year, before starting in my present job as a Research Fellow in Machine Learning.
• Mr Samuel Munday is a Research Assistant at the University of Southampton. He is currently part of the ICURe programme, and his research focus is in the digital economy space, interviewing and working with industry to assess the need for systems that can automatically curate and contextualise information from paper records. Samuel graduated from the University of Southampton in 2018 with an MChem in Chemistry and Maths, and prior to undertaking his recent position, he worked as a Research Technician at the University, and was involved with a variety of different projects. He led the development and implementation of a machine learning platform for the polymeric materials sector, aiding them in bringing new products to market faster. He has also developed and helped deliver a Python programming course for undergraduate Chemists as well as being involved in assessing the ethical implications of implementing AI and data sharing across the food supply chain.
• Dr Samantha Kanza is an Enterprise Fellow at the University of Southampton. She completed her MEng in Computer Science at the University of Southampton and then worked for BAE Systems Applied Intelligence for a year before returning to do an iPhD in Web Science (in Computer Science and Chemistry), which focused on Semantic Tagging of Scientific Documents and Electronic Lab Notebooks. She was awarded her PhD in April 2018. Samantha works in the interdisciplinary research area of applying computer science techniques to the scientific domain, specifically through the use of semantic web technologies and artificial intelligence. Her research includes looking at electronic lab notebooks and smart laboratories, to improve the digitization and knowledge management of the scientific record using semantic web technologies; and using IoT devices in the laboratory. She has also worked on a number of interdisciplinary Semantic Web projects in different domains, including agriculture, chemistry and the social sciences.
• Dr Nicola Knight is an Enterprise Research Fellow at the University of Southampton working on the Physical Sciences Data-Science Service (PSDS). She completed her Masters of Chemistry (MChem) at the University of Southampton previously before undertaking a PhD in Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Jeremy Frey. Her PhD focused on the interface between Chemistry and Computing with research in chemical modelling, remote experiments and the implementation of IoT technology in scientific research. Nicola’s current research interests are in the use of computing in scientific labs and notetaking with particular interest in IoT technologies and streamlining the research process.
• Dr Daniel Stewart is an EPSRC IAA Research fellow within the School of Chemistry at the University of Southampton, and the CEO of ViridCO2. Daniel graduated with a Masters in Chemistry with first class honours from the University of Southampton in 2015. After a short break, he joined the research group of Professor Robert Raja in 2016 to undertake a PhD exploring the design, synthesis and characterisation of novel heterogeneous catalysts for the direct utilisation of carbon dioxide. Through this research, Daniel brought together multi-disciplinary techniques from UK and European-based collaborators to rationalise holistic design strategies of catalytic materials at the nanoscale. Completing his PhD in 2020, Daniel’s work culminated in the award of an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Award (IAA) which supported Daniel in commercialising his CO2 utilisation research and founding ViridiCO2 – an innovative start-up that enables manufacturers to transform their waste CO2 into high-value chemical products. This work has been widely recognised for its potential to transform the Carbon Capture Storage and Utilisation (CCSU) landscape through becoming a finalist in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technology Competition, and being accepted into Innovate UK’s entrepreneurial ICURe (Innovation to commercialisation of university research) programme.
• Dr Kevin Parker started his career with a bang by blowing up a laboratory at the University of Cambridge while studying for his Ph.D. Some 40 years later, he runs a training and consultancy company helping start-up companies and individuals achieve their promise. He has completed 500 assignments in this area since 1995. His company’s clients have included 19 Russell Group Universities, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, departments of both the UK and Scottish Government, and the Episcopal Church of Scotland.