People

Dr Yi-Yeoun Kim - Postdoctoral Research Assistant

I am a materials scientist with expertise in the fields of biomineralisation, controls of crystal nucleation and growth and functional organic/inorganic hybrid materials. The focus of my research is understanding and adopting the structure/property relationships and the process inspired by biominerals, which reveal fascinating complex and hierarchical structures and superior mechanical properties, in order to design novel hybrid organic-inorganic materials on a various length scales.

Prior to joining Bristol, I was a visiting scientist (industrial postdoctoral program) working for the strategic research and discovery group at Specialty Minerals Inc. PA, USA. I initiated to explore the industrial applicability of a biomimetic synthesis to develop new functional hybrid materials. Prior to this, I have worked on templated Ca-based mineral thin films and hard tissue implants with Prof. Laurie Gower, and received my PhD degree from the department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida, USA. I received M.S. and B.S from the department of Polymer Science and Engineering from the Pusan National University, South Korea.

Ray Lam

I'm an overseas student originally from Hong Kong and I've been in England for 10 years. My project is sponsored by Unilever. Calcium carbonate is present in water in different amounts. The build up of calcium carbonate in washing machines decreases their efficiency and shortens their working life. Calcium carbonate crystals also build up in our clothing with time, causing the colours to fade. The first stage of my investigation is the mechanism of calcium carbonate crystallisation on different materials and interfaces. Conditions such as temperature, pH and concentration of calcium carbonate are examples of variables.


About myself! My main interests include high-tech gadgets (hence the sky-high credit card bills) and anything with 4 wheels and a steering wheel.

Lisa Megraw

I am interested in crystal growth in confined volumes. One project is currently focusing on calcium carbonate growth inside the pores of track etch membranes, using amorphous calcium carbonate as a precursor phase. I am invetsigating the effect of chemical modification of the membrane pores on the product of crystallisation. I am also carrying out a project involving protein crystallisation.

I prefer to remain enigmatic so am not doing to divulge what I do in my spare time.

Beth Noel

I’m a first year PhD student, but I also did my undergraduate degree at Bristol. I currently have a number of projects on the go. The first involves the electrospinning of amorphous pre-cursors, primarily amorphous calcium carbonate, to produce nanofibres. As well as this I am also investigating the stabilization of biogenic amorphous calcium carbonate in the spicule of sea urchin larvae.

In my spare time I enjoy socializing with my friends, usually accompanied by gin, as well as some appalling pool playing.

Nicola Hetherington

I am a final year PhD student and I also studied at the University of Bristol for my undergraduate degree. I am working with calcium carbonate, using both soluble additives and solid templates such as colloidal crystals to change the way it grows and its subsequent morphology. I am also interested in amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and trying to elucidate how prevalent it is in crystallization pathways and at crystal surfaces.

In my own time I enjoy hot air ballooning and hiking but when the weather's against me I enjoy playing my piano and trying not to spill cider or Laphroaig on it.

Ben Masheder

My project is sponsored by a Nexia/EPSRC Industrial award and is based upon investigating hydrated Zirconium Molybdate (ZMh) crystal growth and ultimately morphosynthetic control. The initial aim of this work is to prevent the build up of ZMh in nuclear waste reprocessing conduits and tanks.

When I'm not working (very rarely) I enjoy playing/watching sports, running long distances, travelling and getting embarrassingly drunk wherever I am. Recently I have travelled around Europe in addition to Southern and Eastern Africa.

Jess Martin

I am a first year PhD student working under the supervision of Fiona Meldrum and Stephen Mann. My research includes crystallization of organic molecules within porous media. Organic molecules exhibit a vast amount of polymorphism, whereby there can be a small energy difference between the polymorphs, which will make them sensitive to the confining environment. The crystallization behaviour of these compounds are monitored by PXRD, raman and FT-IR.

In my free time, I enjoy playing pool, socialising, reality TV and shopping!

Ana Paula Ramos

My name is Ana Paula. I am from Brazil. I am doing my PhD studies there at the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto city. I will be here in Bristol for three months as part of a collaborative project. My work involves calcium carbonate growth over metallic surfaces using a organic polyelectrolyte matrix as a mediator. These kind of surfaces have potential applications as bone substitution implants because they are able to promote bone cells growth. In Bristol I am working with calcium carbonate growth on metallic surfaces, as well as calcium carbonate growth in confinement using track etch membranes.