(4pf) Future-proof design for sustainable materials to enable purification of emergent biologics

For a decade I have been pioneering the visualisation, characterisation, and more recently the design of materials used to purify clinically relevant biological products. I have employed techniques including X-ray computed tomography and focused ion beam microscopy to relate structure to function and performance across multiple length scales. This includes the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance resolution and increase the field of view while reducing scan times. To date I have published 14 research articles in leading bioprocessing and materials-focused journals, covering filtration, chromatography and 3D printing. Additionally, I have presented my work at over 50 conference and seminar events across leading meetings in the sector, for example Recovery of Biological Products XX.

A four-year Fellowship and associated grant wins (£645k total) have allowed me to establish collaborations with leading UK and US academic institutions, including secondments at NCSU, RPI and the University of Edinburgh to investigate the use of novel ligands and stationary phases for purifying viral vector therapeutics. I actively co-supervise PhD projects sponsored by Cytiva that allow me to translate prototypes within a setting with real industrial impact.

My future research vision is to harness 3D imaging data to inform the design of new materials and devices, with sustainability at the heart of the creative process. Through achieving a greater understanding of purification behavior, precise chemical and physical attributes of prototypes can be tailored towards specific needs of complex products and processes. This need is timely due to the large number of emergent biologics that present challenging separations. New materials that provide comparable or superior process performance, while demonstrating clear sustainability benefits, promise opportunities for grant funding and industrial collaboration.

Teaching interests: Since 2015 I have been teaching three courses that focus on enterprise within the life sciences sector. In 2021 I was appointed the module lead, responsible for the design, delivery and assessment of course material. The classes range from undergraduate / postgraduate entry level lecture series with cohort sizes of 200+, to advanced courses that focus on group-work scenarios using real world material with cohort sizes of ~20. Over the course of my teaching career, I have received several inspiring testimonies from my teaching, including: “Dr Johnsons’ courses were the most useful I undertook at university ... especially his interactive, consistent, invaluable, feedback methods.”

Since 2018 I have been a manager of a UCL Center of Excellence, which currently retains 4 postdocs and 11 PhD students. I established a mentorship program to ensure that new students were best equipped to undertake their studies and collaborate with a leading industrialist. This has including developing presentation skills, coordinating site visits and assisting those from diverse backgrounds. For my teaching and mentorship service, in 2023 I was recognised as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, equivalent to Associate Professor of teaching. This year I received a UCL Engineering award for “Improving the student experience” which is awarded to ~5 academic or teaching staff across the faculty.