Samantha Southern

Role: Second year PhD student, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London

Subject area: Sustainable carbon-based current collectors for lithium metal anodes.

Nationality: British

I am a second year Faraday Institution PhD researcher interested in sustainable solutions to battery challenges. I grew up in West Sussex and completed my degree in materials science at Oxford University. I then worked as a patent attorney for three years before starting my PhD. I would like to continue working in battery research.

Education

Education

GCSEs (or equivalent): Maths, English, Triple Science, Spanish, History, Dance, Religious Studies and ICT

A-level (or equivalent): Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics 

Degrees:
• MEng in Materials Science, University of Oxford
• PGCert in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London
• PhD in Chemical Engineering (ongoing), Imperial College London

Detail about Samantha

Research

My research

I study the use of electrochemical methods to spin carbon fibres from lignin (a natural resource found in wood) and use the fibres in lithium batteries. We want to try using these fibres because they are sustainable and safer for the environment, and can help to improve the energy density (energy per volume or mass) of the battery.

My inspiration

My inspiration

I want to work on something that has real world application and a big positive impact.

My STEM hero

Who is your STEM hero?

Marie Curie, Polish and naturalised-French physicist and chemist.  Whe won two noble prizes, including being the first woman to do so, at a time when women didn’t even have the right to vote. A 100 years later women are still fighting for more representation in STEM subjects. 

two rows of stacked AA batteries in various colours

Most significant discovery/invention?

Batteries. I have to say that!

A lecturer in a blue lab coat talks to two students at a lab bench

Career options after study

  • Alternative fuels specialist for the space industry (e.g NASA)
  • Battery supply chain or raw materials consultant
  • University research associate or lecturer 
  • Technical consultant
  • Policy advisor
  • Teacher
Imperial Athletics Athlete running

My hobbies

I love running and I’m training for my first marathon. I also enjoy drawing, reading and going to the theatre or cinema.