MEET THE SPEAKERS
SOPHIE CHITTIM
Chief Project Engineer – Environmental Technology
Rolls-Royce
As Chief Project Engineer for Environmental Technology, Sophie is responsible for directing internal test and validation activities of Sustainable Aviation Fuels alongside externally funded programmes furthering emissions and climate research including contrails and sustainable aviation technology roadmapping.
During her decade at Rolls-Royce, Sophie has worked on numerous projects within the net zero sector, including the hydrogen gas turbine demonstrator. Other research and technology roles include supporting projects within the electrification of aviation for both energy storage and hydrogen fuel cell systems in emerging markets, often with SME and academic partners.
Sophie holds a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry from Durham University, where she specialised in graphitic carbon electrode development through her thesis and has completed post graduate qualification in Hydrogen Safety.
DR CHARLOTTE ROY
Life Sciences Policy and Influencing Manager
Muscular Dystrophy UK
Charlotte Roy is Life Sciences Policy and Influencing Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity supporting 110,000 people in the UK living with a muscle wasting condition. A career in policy was not always the plan. With a background in Chemistry, including a PhD developing a molecule for engine oil to lower friction and help reduce emissions, and experience at a Contract Research Organisation, Charlotte realised she wanted a role where she could see a more meaningful impact from her work.
She moved into the charity sector, first at the Motor Neurone Disease Association and then at Muscular Dystrophy UK, working in research communications to make science accessible and demonstrate its value for the community. Through this work she saw that discovering new treatments is only part of the challenge, and ensuring people can access them is often even harder.
In her current role, Charlotte works with regulators, policymakers and partner charities to advocate for timely access to innovative therapies.
DR AMY GODDARD
Research and Technology Manager
Croda
Amy Goddard obtained her PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Nottingham, and has over 12 years of industrial experience, designing products for a wide range of business markets across the consumer care and life sciences sectors. Amy is a research and technology manager for Synthesis and Analytical at Croda, and currently has responsibility for strategic development of chemistry platforms across the business, where sustainability is a topic of significant importance.
DR LAURA FINNEY
Associate and Mids-West Hydrogen Lead
Arup
Dr Laura Finney graduated with a PhD from the CDT in Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in 2019. Since then, Laura has worked in hydrogen for Net Zero focussed roles in both the public and private sector and has achieved Chartered Environmentalist status. As an Associate in Arup’s Bristol Energy Team, Laura leads Arup’s Midlands and West (South West and Wales) hydrogen business, and has supported clients with hydrogen production project development, green gas distribution projects (hydrogen and biomethane), government funding applications, strategy and strategic case development as well as stakeholder engagement and more.
DR VALENTINA CRUCITTI
Research Fellow
University of Nottingham
Dr Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti is a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, where she develops functional polymeric materials for industrial biotechnology and antimicrobial applications. Her research spans advanced manufacturing, high‑throughput experimentation, and the design of next‑generation functional materials — from efficient flow enzymatic reactors created via additive manufacturing to bioactive‑free materials that address fungal and bacterial threats in environmental, biomedical, and industrial settings.
Valentina completed her PhD at the University of Nottingham in 2021, where she developed high‑throughput methods to design and synthesise bioactive surfactants for functional microparticle production. She remained at Nottingham as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, contributing to multiple interdisciplinary projects and working closely with the Additive Manufacturing Group and Life Sciences teams to accelerate the discovery of advanced polymers through automated and scalable approaches.
She has led several projects as Principal Investigator, securing funding from bodies including the EPSRC and the Royal Society of Chemistry, and has built strong collaborations with industry partners such as Johnson Matthey and international collaborators including Sapienza University of Rome. Her work has resulted in a strong publication record across high‑impact journals and she regularly shares her research at national and international events. Beyond her research, Valentina is committed to strengthening the scientific community and widening participation in STEM. She led the organisation of the national Young Researcher Meeting 2022, which brought together over 200 delegates and industrial partners, and she has secured Inclusion & Diversity funding to support initiatives aimed at improving socioeconomic accessibility within science.
Outside of work, Valentina is a mum to a nine‑month‑old baby girl, who ensures she stays active even after a long day in the lab!
DR EMMA HAYWOOD
Analytical Scientist
Lubrizol
Emma Haywood is an Analytical Scientist in the Analytical and Physical Science Department at Lubrizol, Derby, UK. Lubrizol is a global leader in science‑based technologies that enhance mobility, improve wellbeing, and enrich modern life. She holds an MChem in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of York, including an industrial placement year at Pfizer. Emma’s work focuses on solving complex analytical challenges across multidisciplinary project teams. Before joining Lubrizol in 2012, she spent five years working in a contract pharmaceutical laboratory.
DR SARAH MEMARZADEH
Research Fellow
University of Nottingham
Sarah is a currently a PostDoc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Nottingham and is part of multidisciplinary project teams developing potential treatments for myotonic dystrophy and ovarian cancer. Her path has led her from studying International Management, through a career in finance and IT development in a contract research organisation, to then returning to university to be able to contribute to drug discovery as a research chemist. She completed her BSc at the Open University, an MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, followed by an interdisciplinary PhD investigating the prevention of metastasis through targeted protein degradation. Since then, she contributed to different multidisciplinary drug development projects in postdoctoral positions. In addition, she is an active part of the PostDoc Forum and the People&Culture Committee, supporting and representing the PostDoc community. Her career journey through different disciplines, environments and countries is characterised by the importance of Give to Gain and the value of support and collaboration.
An introduction and welcoming remarks from:
PROFESSOR MIRIAM O'DUILL
Associate Professor
University of Nottingham
Miriam O’Duill received her D.Phil. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Oxford in 2016, where she carried out research on late-stage fluorination with Prof. Véronique Gouverneur. She spent two years as a DAAD postdoctoral fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, investigating selective catalytic functionalization of alkenes and alkynes with Prof. Keary M. Engle. In 2018, Miriam began her independent career at NUI Galway, before accepting a position as Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham in 2020, where she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2025. Her research interests span transition metal catalysis, isotopic labelling for medical imaging, and the development of sustainable, metal-free reaction methodology using hypervalent iodine reagents.