Before coming to the DST CDT I graduated with a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford. Whilst undertaking my 4th year research project in solid state chemistry I made the decision to continue my career in research, and the DST CDT was an attractive option. I completed my MSc component of the programme in 2016, achieving a distinction, and am currently in the 2nd year of my PhD, based in the petrology group in the Bristol School of Earth Sciences, under the supervision of Simon Kohn.

Away from the CDT I am a keen sportsman, and play American football for the University of Bristol. I am also a private tutor, covering maths and the sciences for local GCSE and A-Level students.

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PhD Title: Hydrogen in natural diamonds: How much is there, where is it, and what can it tell us about diamond growth environments?
PhD Supervisor: Dr. Simon Kohn
Institution: University of Bristol

My research is focused on hydrogen in natural diamonds, and attempting to shed some light onto an elusive impurity. It is well known that most natural diamonds contain hydrogen, however, the environments in which this hydrogen is contained, and the amount of it that is present, is poorly understood.

My research involves the use of a number of techniques. These include infra-red and photoluminescence spectroscopy, used to map the spatial variations of various defects through diamonds, and other techniques used to attempt to quantify hydrogen content.

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Teaching

I have been involved in the demonstration of the DST CDT MSc module on defects and dopants in diamond, involving the use of a Raman microscope to probe various properties of a number of samples.

In Bristol I have been involved in the demonstration of Physics and Chemistry for Earth Scientists, as part of the undergraduate degree programme. I also tutor maths as part of the MSc Volcanology course.

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Conferences

De Beers 68th Diamond Conference, University of Warwick. Flash talk "Hydrogen in natural diamonds". July 2017

De Beers 68th Diamond Conference, University of Warwick. Poster presentation "Hydrogen in natural diamond: An elusive impurity". July 2017

Natural Systems and Processes Poster Session, University of Bristol. Poster presentation "Hydrogen in natural diamond: An elusive impurity". March 2017 - Awarded 'Best First Year Poster' prize

De Beers 67th Diamond Conference, University of Warwick. Poster presentation "Towards identification of the 3085 cm-1 defect? DFT studies of the effect of dislocations on H-containing defects in diamond". July 2016

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Outreach

I am a member of the CDT outreach committee, serving as regional coordinator for the South of England involved in the planning and organising of events in my region.