Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

Photograph of Lizzie smiling taken outside.

Lizzie in a primary school classroom

Lizzie standing in a primary school classroom with primary school teacher Joshua Piggott.

Lizzie and Rob wearing white space suits, while placing cells into a blue shredder. The shredding takes place in a safety chamber.

Photograph of Lizzie smiling, while wearing her lab coat and lab specs. In the foreground is the backs of her two colleagues: Rob and Anton.

Lizzie in her graduation robes with her partner James.

About Me:

I’m a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham working on the recycling of Li-ion batteries. I love arts and craft, reading fiction, and pasta!
My pronouns are:

She/Her
My Work:

My work now looks into how we recycle Li-ion battery packs. What do you think happens to batteries at the end of their life?
Read more

I’m a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, sometimes this is called post-doctoral researcher – which means I’ve already done my doctoral research (PhD) and can call myself Dr Lizzie!

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Stourbridge, West Mids, UK (2000 – 2006)

Hagley Catholic High School & Sixth Form, Worcestershire, UK (2006 – 2013)
Qualifications:

Lizzie in her PhD robes in December 2022.

GCSEs: 5A*s and 5 As

A Levels: Chemistry (A), Physics (B) and Maths (B)

MSci Chemistry with Industrial Experience degree – 1st class (2013-2017)

PhD in Chemistry (2017-2022)
Work History:

Junior placement scientist at a solar cell start-up.

Lab demonstrator – this is where I supported undergraduate students through their experiments at the University of Birmingham (UoB).

Research associate at the UoB researching into low temperature solid oxide fuel cell matrials.
Employer:

University of Birmingham

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Makes & breaks batteries.
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  At school I really enjoyed science, but also art. I didn't know what I wanted to do, still don't. I applied to study Physics, but you can see how that went considering I'm nearly 10 years in with Chemistry.
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  Not much - a bit of a goodie two shoes. The one time in art we just kept pushing our pencil cases off the table, no idea why, it was dumb, but it gave us the giggles.
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  I'm not too sure. I really enjoy my work currently. If my partner also wasn't doing his job, I wouldn't be surprised if I would be helping him with his food business.
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  During my teenage years, I LOVED My Chemical Romance. I still do. Throw in Lady Gaga and then we're set.
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Italian food - love pizza. Love pasta. My partner does this amazing spicy nduja and honey pizza soooooo good!
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  To never lose my smile. Let me think on the other 2 - money is always nice, but doesn't always guarantee happiness.
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  Knock knock. Who's there? P. P who?