Profile
Rebecca Donovan
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About Me:
I’m a green chemistry researcher from Wigan and I live with my fiance and my dog Billy. At the weekends I play hockey and eat mexican food!
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After going to uni in Hull (chemistry masters) I worked a couple of industry jobs in Manchester then I travelled around Southeast Asia for a few months and then began researching for my PhD at the university of York. At the moment I spend my time writing up my work, walking my Greyhound Billy, cooking, baking, playing hockey and doing yoga 😀
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I’m part of a team of people at the University of York who try to make new, useful things from food waste. We make things like laundry detergent, plastics, glue, and food additives. We use something all plant waste has in common, plant cell walls! We break down the plant cell wall into different chemicals that we use as building blocks for new chemicals. Sometime we are looking to replace something that is usually made from fossil fuels and sometimes we make brand new chemicals to see what they can do!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and walk my dog then get to the lab by 8.30 am to put on a reaction. After lunch I analyze what I have made and see if I need to purify it. Once I have the chemical pure enough I run lots of tests to figure out exactly which chemical I have made.
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When I get to the lab I decide what reaction I want to put on. I need to kee
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Education:
University of York (PhD)
University of Hull (Masters)
Winstanley College
Byrchall High School
Nicol Mere primary School
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Qualifications:
GCSE’s: A* in PE, A’s in Maths, English lit and lang, Triple science, History and Geography and a B in statistics
A Level’s: Chemistry B, Maths, B, Government and Politics, D, General studies B
Masters in Chemistry: First class with honours
PhD: Not finished yet!!
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Work History:
During uni I did a summer internship at a company that analyses samples for nuclear power plants and they gave me my first ‘proper’ job when I left uni. Then I got a job as a research and development chemist for a chemical factory in Irlam. Then I went on to do my PhD.
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Current Job:
Research as part of my PhD
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
hockey-stick wielding chemistry researcher
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wasn't totally sure, some kind of scientist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No not really - my parents would have killed me
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Currently Lil Nas X
What's your favourite food?
Chilli nachos
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A lottery win of course, to be able to sing well and to travel all around the world
Tell us a joke.
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.
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