ABOUT US
We are a group of young researchers and students within the School of Chemistry at the Univeristy of Nottingham who volunteer to organise the annual ‘Celebrating Women in Chemistry Conference and Careers Event’  held in honour of International Women’s Day.
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The conference features inspiring women speakers within academia and industry to provide insight into their research and career development. Stalls from our industry sponsors as well as poster and 3 minute thesis sessions allow for networking and discovering careers opportunites.
We are a fully inclusive event for young researchers that provides a supportive environment to foster stimulating debate, discussing issues of gender equality and diversity within the scientific community. We strive to highlight and bring awareness to the barriers that women face, but we also take immense pride in creating an event that celebrates the successes and contributions of women within STEM. Our event creates an atmosphere unlike any other conference, where delegates feel involved and valued and are able to share their own personal experiences. We hope that everyone leaves our event feeling inspired, optimistic and empowered for their future. We encourage people of all genders to attend the event to stand in solidarity with women scientists and show their support as allies.
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We look forward to celebrating with you soon!
MEET THE 2026 TEAM
Adedayo Dada
Dayo is a third-year PhD student within the Sustainable Hydrogen CDT, under the supervision of Prof. Graham Newton and Dr Kieran Jones. Within the NAMI research group, Dayo primarily focuses on polyoxometalate synthesis of molecular hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts to allow efficient hydrogen production via water-splitting reactions under mild conditions. Outside the lab, Dayo enjoys keeping active through basketball, wheelchair basketball, and walks in the Peak District.
Emily Dixon
Emily is a third year PhD in the CDT for Sustainable Chemistry, working in the Taresco group. Her research focuses on the biocatalytic synthesis of biodegradable synthetic polymers and their use in biomedicine. Outside of the lab Emily enjoys knitting and sewing, live music and hiking with her dogs.
Benjamin Denison
Benji is a third year PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Lee Johnson, Prof. Graham Newton, and Prof. Darren Walsh in the NAMI group. His research focuses on discerning electrolyte degradation mechanisms in high energy Li-ion batteries. Outside of work, Benji enjoys the gym, squash, badminton, and watching any sport (particularly the 6 nations).
Eleni Axioti
Brinthini Vickneswaran
Valena (Eleni ) is a fourth year PhD in the UoN Polymer Group working in the Taresco group. Her research focuses on the biocatalytic synthesis of biodegradable synthetic polymers for biomedical applications. Outside of the lab, Valena enjoys traveling and photography. She is also part of a theatre group and owns a skincare advisory account on Instagram.
Brin is a third year PhD student working under the supervison of Prof. Mike George and Sir Martyn Poliakoff. Brin's research focuses on using process analytical technologies for sustainable flow chemistry. Outside the lab, she enjoys various activities such as badminton, dodgeball, muay thai and drinking lots of chai.
Jaime Crossley
Jaime is a final year PhD student in the CDT for Sustainable Chemistry. She is a researcher in the Licence group working on the synthesis of heterobimetallic complexes for catalysis. In her spare time, Jaime enjoys knitting, roller skating, and spending time with her cat, Ezra.
Emilie Wheatley
Emilie is a postdoctoral researcher in the Silvi Group at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on promoting organic reactions photochemically and exploring novel reaction pathways. Outside of the lab, Emilie enjoys ice skating, crocheting, and listening to Taylor Swift!
Ishbel Cooke
Ishbel is a third year PhD student the CDT for Sustainable Chemistry, working in the O’Duill Group at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of fluorine-18 labelled radiotracers for use in PET imaging of bacterial infections. Outside of the lab, Ishbel enjoys running, travelling and painting.
ALUMNI
2024-2025
Adedayo Dada
Joanne Searle
Benjamin Dennison
Evie Crowe
Emilie Wheatley
Jamie Crossley
Laura Blair
Olivia Munns
Emily Dixon
Eleni Aixioti
Brinthini Vicknesswaran
2023-2024
Adedayo Dada
Joanne Searle
Margaret Smith
Nicole Tsang
2022-2023
Abigail Miller
Adam Lee
Harriet Fowler
Hetty Walker
Jessica Streets
Kateryna Zhyvitska
Katherine Reynolds
Kristoffer Kortsen
Philippa Jacob
Thria Alkhaldi
2021-2022
Abigail Miller
Adam Lee
Alexe Haywood
Eduards Krumins
Elizabeth Hufton
Harriet Fowler
Hetty Walker
Jessica Streets
Kateryna Zhyvitska
Katherine Reynolds
Kristoffer Kortsen
Philippa Jacob
Thria Alkhaldi
Wagma Ayub
2020-2021
Abigail Miller
Ana Alves Costa Pacheco
Barbara Villa Marcos
Eduards Krumins
Ellen Guest
Jessica Streets
Kateryna Zhyvitska
Katherine Jolley
Katherine Reynolds
Megan Thomsett
2019-2020
Ana Alves Costa Pacheco
Bruna Lacerda Da Silva Abreu
Charlotte Roy
Ellen Guest
Marysia Tarnowska
Megan Thomsett
Patrick Morgan
2018-2019
Dara O’Brien
Neelam Mughal
Rhona Savin
CONFERENCE HISTORY
The first Women in Chemistry conference was founded in 2019, at the initiative of three PhD students, Dara O’Brien, Rhona Savin, and Neelam Mughal. Their idea was to mark International Women’s Day (IWD), by inviting six female chemists to talk about, and celebrate, their career journeys with an inclusive audience. The idea was not only to discuss issues of equality and diversity in the chemical sciences, but to showcase women themselves at centre stage for IWD. The response was hugely positive, and it is now an annual event. Seeing the enormous response to the conference and appetite for change, Dara went on to found the Women in Chemistry Group with the Head of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee in the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry. The group was established as an umbrella-group within the EDI committee, with a particular focus on women’s (and related) issues. ​The Women in Chemistry Group continues to operate as a voluntary organisation of young researchers, academics, and professionals within the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Vice-Chancellor’s Medal 2020 - https://exchange.nottingham.ac.uk/blog/vice-chancellors-medal-2020-winners-announced/
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Communications Chemistry 2020 - https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-020-0296-z
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Nature Chemistry 2019 - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-019-0285-y
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EPSRC CDT in Sustainable Chemistry 2019 - https://suschem-nottingham-cdt.ac.uk/index.php/news-blog/article/women-in-chemistry