Biography

I am a scientist building and operating new machinery at the Australian Synchrotron. The machinery, or beamline, will shoot a beam of x-rays at atoms to learn about their structure and chemistry. Once this beamline is built, I will work with scientists from all around the world to help us understand more about scientific problems like toxins in soil, how drugs are absorbed by the body, and how elements bond together in minerals.

My background is in geology, where I have hiked mountains in Scotland and cruised around fjords in Norway and New Zealand hunting for rocks so I can learn more about how metals move around Earth’s crust. These metals are crucial for green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines, so understanding the processes that control their distribution is important to ensure we can continue using clean energy technologies in the future.

The most satisfying part of my work is using evidence to solve puzzles, which I’ve done in both geology and science policy. One policy puzzle I worked on was a project to attract more women into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers, and how we can support women to have a great career in STEM. During that process I learnt a lot about the amazing work women in STEM are doing, and encourage everyone to learn more about the benefits of diverse teams outlined in the Women in STEM Decadal Plan.

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