Before entering higher education, Sarah worked in various roles, including three years in plastics recycling, which sparked her interest in polymer science. As a mature student, she completed a Foundation in Science and Engineering, followed by a BEng (Hons) in Materials Engineering. Her final-year dissertation focused on the processability of polyester-based triblock copolymers for biomedical applications. In 2024, Sarah completed a PhD in sustainable polymer chemistry under the supervision of Dr Fiona Hatton and Dr Simon Martin. Her doctoral research demonstrated the first example of a biobased, stimuli-responsive diblock copolymer nanoparticles synthesised by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated aqueous emulsion polymerisation.
Sarah’s postdoctoral research has included application development within a university spin-out company and a Research Associate (PDRA) role at Loughborough University. As a PDRA, she has collaborated with an industrial partner developing PLA composites with reduced moisture sensitivity, and progressed the commercialisation of cutting-edge sensing technology for continuous environmental water monitoring. In September 2025, she began a new commercialisation project enabling reusable packaging tracking systems.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys playing the clarinet in concert bands, singing lessons and attending Park Run with friends.
Qualifications:
• PhD in sustainable polymer chemistry, Department of Materials, Loughborough University, 2024
• BEng (Hons), Materials Engineering, Department of Materials, Loughborough University, 2019
• Commercialisation of technology
• Plastics processing
• Plastics recycling
• Sustainable polymer chemistry
• Self-assembly of block copolymers