Profile
Victoria Bemmer
-
About Me:
I live with my husband in London. I’m a researcher by day, and can be found in the gym most evenings. I love travelling, weightlifting and dogs!
-
My pronouns are:
she/her
-
My Work:
I use enzymes (chemical scissors) to breakdown plastics and make them easier to recycle and reuse. I use microscopes to look at how the enzymes change the plastic.
-
My Typical Day:
If I’m going into work day starts early- 5.30 am! I’ll go to the gym, then its an hour and a half on the train down to Portsmouth, during which I’ll have my breakfast and get a bit of work done. At work I’ll do plenty of experiments, and usually its back on the train around 5!
-
Read more
When I’m in the lab I do lots of experiments trying to measure how my enzymes are changing plastics, either by looking at them with microscopes, or using spectroscopy to see what elements are in my plastic. I’m a specialist in microscopy, so work with other people on lots of different projects, so will catch up with them whilst I’m at work.
Because it takes me so long to get into work I don’t travel in every day- if I have a lot of data to analyse I’ll stay at home with my laptop! I’ll also spend these days writing up my results, reading work other people have done and apply for money to start new projects.
-
Education:
Norton Hill School and Sixth Form 1998-2005
Cardiff University 2005-2013
-
Qualifications:
GCSEs- 12 A*-C, with A* in double science
As Level- Religious Studies
A Levels- Maths, Biology and Chemistry
University- MChem integrated masters in chemistry.
PhD in Chemistry
-
Work History:
My first job was working in a call centre that sold stationery to schools- I did this every summer from 16 until I graduated from my undergraduate degree.
I did a summer placement in the R&D labs for Lee Fung Beauty, the company that make products for the body shop. Despite it being the summer we were working on the Christmas ranges, I spent a lot of time monitoring changes in pH and viscosity of different shower gels!
My PhD was funded by Cogent Power- a steel company, so I spent some time in their chemistry labs and got to see the production lines first hand!
My first job after my PhD was managing a microscopy facility in the Materials Departmetn at Imperial College. I taught people how to use the microscopes, fixed them, and contributed to selected research projects from across the department
-
Employer:
Portsmouth University.
-
My Interview
-
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
dog loving microscopist
What did you want to be after you left school?
A forensic scientist- I blame CSI!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really- I did get told off for talking too much a few times though!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I'd probably be a doctor
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift
What's your favourite food?
Pizza!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
More sleep, a dog and to be able to sing!
Tell us a joke.
What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho Cheese!
-