We asked our current MRes cohort to introduce themselves in just a couple of sentences following a science communication lecture.

Read below to learn about their scientific background, research interests and also a bit about their hobbies outside of the lab/office.

‘Hello! My name is Humaira. I am currently pursuing an MRes in Molecular Engineering at Imperial College London, following a BSc in Chemistry from Queen Mary University of London. My academic interests are green chemistry, sustainable materials, and innovative pollutant degradation methods. For my undergraduate research, I investigated pollutant breakdown through Cu(II) and Mn(II) catalysis with in-situ hydrogen peroxide generation, gaining valuable analytical skills in reaction tracking and environmental impact assessment. With the unique combination of molecular science and engineering in my MRes studies, I’m excited to work toward impactful solutions in healthcare, renewable energy, and eco-friendly materials.’

‘Hi, I’m Yea Eun from South Korea. I am currently an  MRes student in Molecular Engineering at Imperial College London. I have a background in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and my final-year research focused on developing Photobase Generators (PBGs) for semiconductor patterning. I am interested in medical devices and sustainable solutions.’

‘My name is Viveka Sivakaran and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Applied Chemistry and Molecular Engineering from University College London. Currently, I am pursuing an MRes at Imperial College London’s Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE). I am particularly interested in green chemistry and in exploring how engineering can intersect with modern medicine to develop sustainable, impactful solutions.’

‘Hi, I’m Emile! I hold a bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from UCL, and I’m currently pursuing a MRes in Molecular Engineering at Imperial. After acquiring theoretical and practical expertise in bioprocessing technology and synthetic biology, I’m eager to gain a deeper understanding of their underlying molecular processes. I’m confident that this interdisciplinary course will open my eyes to many intriguing new fields and concepts, whilst also providing me with the necessary fundamentals to research, design, and optimise biotechnology at the molecular level. Coming to Imperial was a decision made easy by the Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering, through its world leading lecturers and its clear emphasis on developing impactful solutions in healthcare and sustainability.’

‘Hello! I am Daniel. I am interested in the medical application of molecular engineering. I have a materials science background and completed an internship working on localized surface plasmon resonance sensing at my previous university. I also did ellipsometry sensing with surface plasmon resonance. I am especially interested in biosensing which has great potential to be used in tackling tackle different diseases.’

‘Hi, I’m Julien! I studied Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering at Warwick, where I got into renewable energy through projects on silicon solar cells. I chose Imperial’s Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering because it combines science with real-world impact. With this said, my final goal is to work in the battery technology industry, or a renewable energy related industry.’

‘Hi, I am Zishang Gao. I graduated in Materials Science and Engineering from Swansea University. My project was focused on synthesis and electrochemical analysis of single crystal NMMO cathode Sodium-ion batteries. I synthesised the single crystal NMMO power and used SEM and XRD to make sure we got the correct material. After that, I used the NMMO as the cathode to make cell batteries and tested the electrochemical performance. Nowadays, green energy is very important. I developed a strong interest in cutting-edge battery technologies, particularly sodium-ion (Na-ion) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, along with nanomaterials.’

‘Hi! I’m Yinan from China. My background is in structural engineering. My research interests lie in examining how polymer suspensions contribute to the structural support of underground structures, as well as investigating possible polymer topologies that can be applied to maintain excavation stability.’

‘Hello, I am Lu Juanchen (aka Jason), from China. My research interests is organic and polymer chemistry. I hope to transform my knowledge into commercially available industrial products in a more sustainable way.’

We also asked our students about their favourite activities to do when not studying. It is not surprising to learn that many of them enjoy being out in nature following on their passion on sustainability, either doing sports, walking with their pets or even fishing! Creativity is also very present in their daily life including playing guitar, baking, drawing or photography. As curious people, they enjoy travelling and trying different cuisines.

We are very happy to have them joining IMSE for the year and we hope they have a great time learning about molecular engineering and experiencing life at Imperial.