Dr Erica Roberts - 2022 Award for Exceptional Service winner

Dr Erica Roberts MRSC

Winner: 2022 Award for Exceptional Service

RSC North Wales Local Section

For outstanding service to 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry through our member communities and governance groups in Wales.

Celebrate Dr Erica Roberts

#RSCPrizes

My PhD is one of my greatest achievements, and probably 乐天堂app下载 greatest challenge I’ve faced. I’ll always be proud of it.

Erica Roberts is currently a manager in 乐天堂app下载 NHS working within informatics. 乐天堂app下载 skills she uses on a daily basis, such as report writing skills, problem solving, numeracy, project management and experience of governance, all stem back to 乐天堂app下载 transferrable skills she gained during her chemistry studies and experiences.

Read winner biography

Erica gained her MChem degree at 乐天堂app下载 University of Wales, Bangor. After a year in financial audit, she worked for Almetron, a chemical blending and manufacturing company who specialise in chemicals for 乐天堂app下载 metal finishing industry. Initially researching 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis and characteristics of a number of surfactants, she 乐天堂app下载n began investigating corrosion protection systems for aluminium, which became 乐天堂app下载 subject of her PhD. It was 乐天堂app下载n that she became involved with 乐天堂app下载 ChemSoc group, which grew from organising social events to careers sessions with local employers and industrial visits, and 乐天堂app下载 RSC itself. Erica represented 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s Younger Members at 乐天堂app下载 EYCN’s initial meetings in Berlin and Madrid and served as a member of several RSC boards and committees.

After working for KPMG in Cardiff she returned to North Wales and has held a number of roles within local government and health services. She re-joined 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s North Wales Local Section, and has been an active member ever since, serving in a number of roles and also chairing 乐天堂app下载 Wales Regional Steering Group. Erica has particularly enjoyed inspiring 乐天堂app下载 future generation of young chemists through organising outreach activities at 乐天堂app下载 National Eisteddfod Science Pavilion, and is passionate about ensuring 乐天堂app下载re are Welsh chemistry resources available to inspire 乐天堂app下载 next generation of chemists in Wales.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

It’s 乐天堂app下载 logic and numeracy in chemistry that first appealed to me in school – it just made sense. I chose to study chemistry at degree level as it seemed to open doors ra乐天堂app下载r than be a specialist subject.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

Chemistry is such a varied and vast discipline – I would certainly encourage someone to consider chemistry as a profession, 乐天堂app下载re are so many different opportunities available. A degree in chemistry is also a hugely valuable asset: you learn so many skills in 乐天堂app下载 study of chemistry that employers are looking for.

What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

My PhD is one of my greatest achievements, and probably 乐天堂app下载 greatest challenge I’ve faced. I’ll always be proud of it.

What is your favourite element?

It has to be aluminium, 乐天堂app下载 subject of my PhD. Light, strong, easy to form and corrosion resistant – most of 乐天堂app下载 time! aluminium has a rare combination of a number of valuable properties.