Project researchers - next destinations

Dr Sam Booth, Project Leader FutureCat 2019-December 2022

Dr Sam Booth, our FutureCat project leader from the project start in 2019 – December 2022. Sam has now moved to Integrated Graphene in Stirling and you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Harry Geddes, was a PDRA researcher with FutureCat now at Nature CommunicationsDr Harry Geddes was a Post Doctoral researcher with FutureCat, working with Prof Andrew Goodwin from 2019 -2021.  Harry joined Nature Communications in January 2022 as an  Associate Editor and you can connect with him there or on LinkedIn.

Dr Kirstie McCombie, was a FutureCat PDRA based at Sheffield, now working at WMG.

Dr Kirstie McCombie was a PDRA in the department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield. FutureCat research focused on the synthesis and development of possible cathode materials for lithium ion batteries based on complex metal oxides, including disordered rock salt structures and spinels. In January 2023 Kirstie moved to Warwick Manufacturing Group as a Research Fellow. You can connect with Kirstie via WMG or LinkedIn.

Dr Bin Wang, formerly PDRA with FutureCat

Dr Bin Wang obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester. He joined the Tapia-Ruiz’s group as Research Associate at Lancaster University in August 2021 with his research focus on the SECM characterization of the solid-state interface of the cathode. In May 2022 Bin joined the China University of Petroleum as a Lecturer.

Dr Naresh Gollapally, former FutureCat postdoctoral researcherDr Naresh Gollapally was is a PDRA in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield. He previously worked on the Faraday Institution Degradation project (Oct 2018 -Feb 2021) for synthesis of faceted single-crystal NMC cathodes. His work at FutureCat involved the size and morphology control of high nickel content single-crystal cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. In February 2023 Naresh joined Faridion and you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Dr Abby Haworth, former FutureCat post doctoral researcherDr Abby Haworth was a senior research associate at Lancaster University working within the group of Dr Griffin from October 2020 to March 2023. Her research focused on using solid-state NMR spectroscopy to provide additional insight into the local structure of cathode materials and protective coatings. In April 2023, she joined the University of Liverpool as a Lecturer in the School of Engineering. You can contact her here.

Dr Laura Wheatcroft, previously post doc researcher for FutureCatDr Laura Wheatcroft was a post doctoral researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield. Her background is in advanced electron microscopy characterisation methods for lithium-ion battery materials. Her FutureCat research focus was on the characterisation and development of new electrode microstructures for future cathode materials. In May 2023 Laura joined Nyobolt as a Scientist, and you can contact her via LinkedIn.

Dr Joe Stallard, previously FutureCat post docDr Joe Stallard was a FutureCat PDRA in the Micromechanics Centre at Cambridge University Engineering Department. He specialised in materials characterisation and linking the macroscopic behaviour of materials to their microstructure. He obtained his PhD degree from Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Norman Fleck FRS, studying the mechanics and processing of direct-spun carbon nanotube mats. In April 2023 Joe left FutureCat and joined Adam Boies research group at Cambridge University on an IUK project to incorporate carbon nanotubes as a conductive additive in LIBs and find new ways of dispersing/processing nanotube materials. He can be contacted via LinkedIn.

Dr Bonan Zhu, previously FutureCat PDRADr Bonan Zhu was a PDRA in the Department of Chemistry at University College London. His background is in first-principles calculations and structure predictions of oxide materials and interfaces. FutureCat research focused on the computational modelling and discovery of future cathode materials. Bonan left FutureCat in July 2023 and is now an Associate Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology, School of Aerospace Engineering. Bonan can be contacted via LinkedIn

Dr Alex Squires, University of Birmingham, previously FutureCat PDRADr Alex Squires was a FutureCat PDRA in the Department of Chemistry at UCL. His work involved the characterisation of local atomic structure in disordered Li-ion cathode materials, and its implications for electrochemical performance using computational modelling techniques. Alex moved to the University of Birmingham and became Group Leader in the Scanlon Materials Group in September 2023, and can be contacted via LinkedIn.

Ziheng Lupreviously PDRA researcher with FutureCat, now at Microsoft

Dr Ziheng Lu, was a Post Doctoral researcher with Cambridge University FutureCat team, working with Prof Chris Pickard. His research focuses on computational and experimental design of new materials. Ziheng moved to Microsoft Research in February 2022 as a Senior Researcher and you can connect with him here at Microsoft Research.

Dr Viktoria Falkowski, previously PDRA with FutureCat now with Karlruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)Dr Viktoria Falkowski was a FutureCat PDRA in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at Oxford University. She specialised in the synthesis of new layered materials and their characterisation.  In January 2023 Viktoria moved to the laser material processing group at the Karlruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) in Germany. Please connect with Viktoria via LinkedIn.

Dr Glen Murray, was an Industry Fellow working with FutureCat, and is now working for Jaguar Land RoverDr Glen Murray was an industrial research fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield working in conjunction with TFP Hydrogen Products.  Glen now works for Jaguar Land Rover as Lead Battery Materials Scientist. You can connect with Glen via Jaguar Land Rover or via LinkedIn.

Dr Xiao Hua, previously PDRA with FutureCat, now Lancaster University Lecturer in ChemistryDr Xiao Hua was a FutureCat Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

His research involves the application of a variety of synchrotron techniques to study novel electrode materials’ local structures and their impact on materials’ performances. In April 2022  Xiao took up a position of Lecturer of Chemistry at Lancaster University, and continues to collaborate with us at FutureCat. You can connect with Xiao via  Lancaster University  or LinkedIn.

Abarasi Hart, former FutureCat PDRADr Abarasi Hart was a FutureCat Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield. His work for FutureCat involved controlling and optimizing structure, morphology and composition of cathode nanoparticles for Li-ion batteries. In March 2023 Abarasi moved to a position at Aston University, and you can connect with him via LinkedIn

Adam Lovett, previously FutureCat affiliated PhD researcher, now Postdoctoral researcher at UCLAdam Lovett was a PhD researcher with FutureCat, under the supervision of Prof Judith Driscoll. His area of interest is the fabrication of vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films to probe lithium diffusion through the electrode/electrolyte interface, and exploring their potential applications within the solid-state thin film battery industry.  Since submitting his PhD in December 2022, Adam has gone onto a Post doctoral Researcher in the Chemical Engineering department at University College London (UCL), and you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Dr Seungkyu Park, previously Post doctoral researcher at FutureCat, now at Samsung, South Korea

Dr Seungkyu Park was a Associate researcher in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. His research is in the development of advanced energy materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). He has a variety of experience in LIBs cell design, ranging from coin type cell to pouch cell including single layer 14 mAh and stacked 1 Ah cell. In September 2021 Seungkyu moved to Samsung, South Korea as a Staff Engineer, and you can connect with him via LinkedIn.

Dr Gabriel Perez, formerly FutureCat postdoctoral researcher, now Instrument Scientist at STFC.

Dr Gabriel Pérez was a FutureCat Postdoctoral Researcher in the Crystallography Group at ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility. He specialises in neutron scattering techniques for the characterisation of energy materials. His research focuses on the design and commissioning of new devices for in-situ neutron and muon battery studies as well as the development of new data analysis methods. Dr Pérez continues his work as an Instrument Scientist at ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility, will continue to collaborate with FutureCat, and can be contacted via LinkedIn.

Dr Peter Gross, previously postdoctoral researcher with FutureCat, at University of SheffieldDr Peter Gross has worked for both NexGENNA and FutureCat projects. His research for FutureCat studied disordered rock salts as future cathode materials for lithium ion batteries.  In January 2024, Peter joined Professor Tony West‘s group, still within Materials Science Engineering at Sheffield, on mechanochemical synthesis of battery materials. (Grant EP/X040305/1).

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