I'm a chemist by background. I completed my master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool before joining Queen Mary in 2019 to pursue a PhD in Materials Science. I completed my PhD in 2023, researching superhydrophobic materials for real world applications, including oil and water separation, antifouling materials and sustainable packaging. I stayed at Queen Mary as a postdoctoral researcher, and my research has since developed into EcoBarrier, a Queen Mary spinout, where I'm now founder and chief technology officer (CTO).

My business

EcoBarrier is a Queen Mary spinout developing sustainable, plant based barrier coatings to help make paper based packaging a viable alternative to plastic. While there are already many sustainable alternatives to plastic coatings, most struggle with moisture, limiting their use in applications such as fresh food packaging. Our coatings are designed to provide resistance to water, oils and air. We work directly with our customers to develop solutions tailored to their specific packaging requirements, aiming to make sustainable packaging a practical option where plastic is still difficult to replace.

I am an entrepreneur because. . .

I want to take the research I've spent years working on and see it make a difference beyond academia. Learning new skills outside the lab has been exciting and challenging, and seeing interest in our work from people beyond the research community has been rewarding. The possibility of turning that research into real world products that help reduce plastic waste and make packaging more sustainable is what motivates me.

The problem I am trying to solve, and why it matters to me

Plastic waste affects all of us. It's sad how often you can walk down the street and see it piling up, especially when it doesn't have to be this way. We need better alternatives to plastic packaging, but paper based packaging can struggle to protect products from moisture, making plastic difficult to replace in many applications. Through EcoBarrier, we're working to overcome that barrier and make more sustainable packaging a practical option. I have a nephew who isn't even a year old yet, and I think about what the world will look like when he's my age. I'd like to think we'll have made real progress by then.

The achievement I am most proud of

I'm proud of how much I've grown in confidence since starting this journey. Having spent most of my time working in a lab, often independently, moving into the world of startups and business was a big change. At first, I felt out of my depth alongside people with years of business experience. Since then, I've represented EcoBarrier at events and programmes including MassChallenge, the RSC Emerging Technologies Competition, Prototypes for Humanity and ICURe. I've learnt to explain our work to people from different backgrounds and become much more confident in what we're trying to achieve. Signing our first contract was another milestone: it made the business feel real rather than just an idea we were working towards.

How Queen Mary supported my journey

Colin Crick, my PhD supervisor and now EcoBarrier's CEO and cofounder, first encouraged me to explore the commercial potential of my research and has supported me throughout the process. Huan in the Technology Transfer Office supported us through ICURe, which helped us explore that potential. Adam has also been a great source of support, taking the time to explain things and help me understand the commercialisation process. Having people within the university who are willing to share their experience, answer questions and help me navigate unfamiliar territory has made a real difference.

The advice I would give to a Queen Mary student or graduate who is considering starting something of their own

Don't be put off by how much you don't know at the beginning. Coming from a research background, I had very little business experience, but you don't need to have everything figured out from day one. You learn a lot by getting out there, speaking to people and giving things a go. Start talking to people outside your immediate research area as early as possible. I was surprised by how many people were willing to have a quick call lasting 10 or 15 minutes about the challenges they face and whether our technology could help. Those conversations can help you understand whether there's a genuine need for what you're developing and where it could have the most value, which might not be the use you originally intended.