Profile
Bethany Husband
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About Me:
I live in Loughborough with a couple of people from work. I work at a University as a researcher, spending my days in a chemical lab. When I’m not in the lab, I love baking cakes, playing board games and trying new crafts!🎨
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I am originally from Somerset, near Cheddar (where the cheese comes from!) but moved to the Midlands to study at University. I’ve stayed there since, but still love to travel back home to see my family.
At school, I played loads of musical instruments – piano, trumpet, saxophone and even sang in the choir! Now I spend my spare time playing board games with my partner, and trying out new activities like painting, pottery and knitting.
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
I am a research chemist using natural materials like starch, from potatoes, and oil to make polymers (plastics) that are sustainable and can degrade in the environment.
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My research aims to help with the plastic pollution problem – the build up of plastic in the environment. I use natural materials that come from plants and make polymers (large molecules made of lots of smaller ones) that can be used to replace the polymers we currently use.
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My Typical Day:
On a typical day, I wake up, have breakfast and get to work by 9 am. I start the day by checking my emails and planning the experiments I have to do for that day. I am in the lab by 10 am, setting up the experiments and looking at the results from the day before. I have a lunch break at the local cafe (the cookies are delicious!) and then continue working in the lab after lunch. I leave work at 5 pm
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The best days start off with a coffee and croissant. I walk to work, which takes around 10 minutes, and get to my office for 9 am. During the workday, I am in the lab doing lots of different chemical reactions. Part of my job is also to help the students in the lab, as well as teaching them lab skills and doing safety training, so I am often helping out others with their research too. The lab closes at 5 pm, so then it’s time to go home!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Host an activity day or exhibition to engage the public in science, and encourage people to get into science.
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Education:
Secondary school and sixth form – The Blue School, Wells (Wells Blue)
Integrated masters degree and PhD – University of Nottingham
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Qualifications:
GCSEs – The Blue School, Wells
6 A* (Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, German, Design and Technology – Textiles), 3 A (Core Science, English Language and English Literature) , 1B (Art)
AS Levels – The Blue School, Wells (Sixth Form)
2 B, German and Design & Technology – Textiles
A Levels – The Blue School, Wells (Sixth Form)
1 A* (Maths) and 2 A (Further Maths and Chemistry)
Integrated Masters (MSci) in Natural Sciences from University of Nottingham, studying Chemistry, Maths and Geography
PhD (doctor of philosophy) in Chemical Engineering – University of Nottingham
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Work History:
Personal Shopper at Tesco
Guest Engagement Team Member at Longleat Safari Park
Laboratory Demonstrator at University of Nottingham, Chemistry Department
Workshop Leader at University of Nottingham, Maths Department
Research Assistant at University of Nottingham, Department of Chemical Engineering
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Current Job:
Postdoctoral Research Associate at Loughborough University, Department of Materials
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Employer:
Loughborough University
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Sustainable materials researcher
What did you want to be after you left school?
Accountant
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Nope, never!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Something in finance
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift
What's your favourite food?
Red velvet cake
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To have a house by the sea, to have a pet dog (or two)
Tell us a joke.
What type of dogs do chemists own? Laboratory Retrievers.
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