ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ event that I’m currently organising is called North East Women in Chemistry. We have a line-up of female speakers from academia and industry, and it’s open to all genders and anyone around ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ country. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC has been very supportive with promoting it on social media and it’s even on ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ website. I wouldn’t have thought to do that if it wasn’t for ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC saying it would be a good idea! I’m really excited about it.
Position:
Research and Development Chemist at High Force Research
Specialism:
SynÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØtic chemistry
Membership classification: Member
“When I finished my PhD, I had no clue what I wanted to do. I ended up taking a six-month postdoc at ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ University of Glasgow, and it was only ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØn that I realised that academic life was not for me.
“I decided to go into industry and came across an advert for High Force Research. It was a completely different job to what I was doing previously, but I decided to apply and see what happened – and actually, it’s been great!”
Caitlin has now been working as a research and development chemist at High Force Research since 2019. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ company collaborates with industry, discovery groups, start-up and academic spin-off companies in synÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØsising and analysing new materials for proof-of-concept, route evaluation and process development/scale-up, stability trials and toxicological studies. Day to day Caitlin works in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ lab performing synÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØtic organic projects across various areas including pharmaceutical, agrochemical and diagnostics.
Every couple of months you work on something different, which keeps it interesting and allows you to learn a lot. I really enjoy it, and ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØn I also have encouraging managers who are helping me explore ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ business management side.
In ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ next five years Caitlin would like to progress into a business development role. Her company has been very supportive of this aspiration and has organised for her to attend and run her own networking events.
Affiliated with ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC since her days as a student, Caitlin now volunteers as an RSC representative in industry, meaning she manages ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ memberships for employees at her company.
Let’s advance chemistry, togeÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr. Reach your full potential with RSC membership.
“I joined when I was a student, and ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ appeal for me was all ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ conferences and access to scientific papers. I’ve always tried to be involved as much as possible with what ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy’ve been doing, and so currently I’m ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC representative at our company.
“As an RSC representative, I try and encourage as many people at High Force to sign up every year. I tell ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØm about everything on offer – ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ scientific papers, events and careers consultations – because I know from experience how helpful ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy can be.”
Caitlin is currently looking to apply for Chartered Chemist (CChem) status alongside a few of her oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr colleagues.
At ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ moment ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre’s quite a lot of people – including myself – who want to use ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir memberships to do ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir Chartered Chemist (CChem), but we didn’t know where to start. I recently attended an online event that was super useful, and ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre’s anoÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr one next week to demystify ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ process and make it less overwhelming. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy speak about how to apply your experience to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ attributes, which is incredibly helpful
Having participated in RSC events for many years, Caitlin has found many opportunities to present work and network with oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØrs – something she now advises oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØrs to do from ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ minute ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy sign up.
ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ events – both past, present and in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ future – are ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ most valuable thing about ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC. When I first started going to events as a student, I was absolutely terrified to talk to anyone, but I forced myself to do it. Everyone is always so friendly, so it’s a nice way to break yourself into it and build in confidence as it goes on. A few years down ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ line you won’t think twice about talking to someone you have never met before.
“I think you get so much from ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC in terms of resources and support. I’m in about 20 interest groups and a lot of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ time ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir events coincide with things we have worked on or want to work on in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ future. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ resources help to give you an advantage – gets posted to you monthly and keeps you up to date with what’s happening around ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ world. And ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØn ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre’s ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ papers and journals too!
“I’ll definitely continue my membership for many years to come. Everything ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy offer is really valuable, and everyone I’ve spoken to has been really friendly and helpful.”