I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Masters in Physics with Theoretical Physics in 2017. I knew I wanted to continue my academic career by doing a PhD but was unsure about what topic to pursue. After hearing about the DST doctoral training centre and researching the topic myself, I decided that the program was a unique opportunity I wanted to pursue.

Having completed the DST CDT Master course in 2018 I progressed onto the PhD program in the Warwick Diamond Research Group at Millburn House. I am supervised by Professor Mark Newton, Professor Mike Glazer and Professor Pam Thomas and funded by EPSRC and De Beers.

My project title is 'Quantitative Optical Measurements on Diamond' and is most focussed on an improved quantitative birefringence microscope and hence comparing different techniques for measuring strain in Diamonds.

How did your journey into science begin?

I always had an interest in science and learning new things but the main trigger was a documentary on string theory that prompted me to read Brian Green's The Elegant Universe. I was really inspired by the book and quickly worked out that university was the place to ask my questions about its contents.

What is your favourite thing about your research?

I really enjoy that my work is very classical at its heart. The fundementals are optics and field theory which I can dive right into.

Why do you think it is important to highlight women in science? What does it mean to you?

I definately had alot of people in my undergrad challenge my ability because I was a women so I think its really important to show that women are just as good at science as anyone else. As a researcher I dont have that same pressure anymore but I want to make sure other people dont have similar bad experiences and get put off from following the career they actually want.

Conferences

De Beers 69^th Diamond Conference, The University of Warwick. Poster Presentation "Strain and Dislocation Characteristics of Heteroepitaxial Diamond". July 2018

De Beers 70^th Diamond Conference, The University of Warwick. Poster Presentation "Metripol: A Quantitative Optical Imaging System for Birefringent Samples". July 2019

De Beers 71^st Diamond Conference, The University of Warwick-Online. Poster Presentation "Characterisation Of Strain In Diamond Grown by High-Pressure High-Temperature synthesis". July 2021

Outreach

I am a member of the DST CDT Outreach committee which is responsible for organising and running outreach events in the Midlands.

August 2018 - Manchester Science and Industry Museum