Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

I had originally thought I would go into research, but at the end of my Science degree I decided to complete my Engineering degree instead and move in a more practical direction.

The combination of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering in contaminated sites assessment only became clear to me while completing my Engineering degree. This meant I could use my interest in chemistry to help solve the complicated issues involved in contaminated sites assessment and remediation.

My experience in the workforce following graduation included the high-profile Bellevue Waste Control Facility, which was destroyed by fire in 2001. It was the lack of understanding of the combined effects of complex mixtures of compounds found at the Bellevue site that inspired me to take up a PhD at UFZ Leipzig, where our research group is focusing on a new way of assessing contaminated samples.

Skills acquired during both my degrees have been invaluable, as was as the opportunity given to me by the Science Faculty (now Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences) for the exchange year in Germany.