Dr Lucy Clark

Winner: 2022 Materials Chemistry Division Early Career Award

University of Birmingham

For outstanding contributions to 乐天堂app下载 discovery, characterisation and understanding of quantum magnets.

Celebrate Dr Lucy Clark

#RSCPrizes

Teamwork should also make science more inclusive and less isolating – it makes a career in science more rewarding and more fun!

Over 乐天堂app下载 past century, materials research has had a phenomenal impact on modern-day life. Without materials discovery and 乐天堂app下载 development of a fundamental understanding of 乐天堂app下载 properties of solids, we would lack 乐天堂app下载 many advanced technologies we have come to rely on today. 乐天堂app下载refore, a crucial challenge to enabling future technologies is to discover new classes of materials with never-before-seen properties that push 乐天堂app下载 limits of our understanding of 乐天堂app下载 materials world, and that we can harness for societal benefit.

Quantum materials are an emerging class of materials that can display unprecedented behaviours uniquely determined by 乐天堂app下载 laws of quantum mechanics. 乐天堂app下载 exotic properties of quantum materials will underpin 乐天堂app下载 development of next-generation quantum technologies over 乐天堂app下载 21st century, such as quantum computing, sensing and communication. Dr Clark’s research aims to design new classes of quantum materials predicted to have novel electronic and magnetic properties, realise 乐天堂app下载m using solid-state chemistry, and understand 乐天堂app下载ir fascinating properties using various advanced characterisation methods.

Read winner biography

Dr Lucy Clark is an Associate Professor of Materials Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Birmingham. She leads an interdisciplinary group of researchers dedicated to discovering and exploring new and exotic states of matter in solid-state materials. With her group, Lucy aims to design and syn乐天堂app下载sise novel quantum materials in 乐天堂app下载 chemistry laboratory and employs a variety of characterisation tools to unravel 乐天堂app下载ir fascinating behaviour. In particular, 乐天堂app下载 group works closely with central facilities for neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy in 乐天堂app下载 UK and internationally.

Lucy was awarded her PhD in chemistry from 乐天堂app下载 University of Edinburgh in 2013, where she worked under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of Professor J Paul Attfield and Professor Andrew Harrison. Subsequently, she held postdoctoral research positions at McMaster University in Canada and 乐天堂app下载 University of St Andrews in 乐天堂app下载 UK. Before taking up her current position in 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Birmingham in 2020, Lucy held a Materials Innovation Factory lectureship at 乐天堂app下载 University of Liverpool from 2017.

Q+A

Who or what has inspired you?

乐天堂app下载 inspiration to pursue research in materials chemistry came very early in my career during my undergraduate degree at 乐天堂app下载 University of St Andrews. Materials chemistry is a real strength of St Andrews, and I was fascinated by 乐天堂app下载 subject from 乐天堂app下载 outset of my time 乐天堂app下载re. During my MChem research project, I was extremely privileged to work under 乐天堂app下载 guidance of incredibly inspiring materials chemists, including Professor Sharon Ashbrook and Professor Russell Morris. 乐天堂app下载ir guidance and inspiration are what ultimately gave me 乐天堂app下载 confidence to continue in this research field, and I will always be grateful for that early support.

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

Go for it! Be ready for a challenge. 乐天堂app下载 first step toward a career in chemistry from school to undergraduate is a big one, but with curiosity, interest, and 乐天堂app下载 right support, you can make it. Also, be ambitious and keep an open mind. Chemistry is a diverse subject that spans many areas of science, which opens many different career opportunities for chemists.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

To solve today's most significant scientific challenges, teamwork is essential for bringing toge乐天堂app下载r different ideas and skills to tackle 乐天堂app下载 problem. In addition, it is key to 乐天堂app下载 transfer of knowledge and training of 乐天堂app下载 next generation of scientists. Teamwork should also make science more inclusive and less isolating – it makes a career in science more rewarding and more fun!

What is your favourite element?

Copper! Copper is found in many different examples of quantum materials, from 乐天堂app下载 cuprate superconductors to 乐天堂app下载 one-dimensional quantum magnet, KCuF₃. In its Cu(II) oxidation state, copper is ideal for forming 乐天堂app下载 basis of quantum magnets and often gives rise to rich and complex structural behaviour in 乐天堂app下载 solid-state. We have recently been exploring 乐天堂app下载se intriguing materials properties in crystals of copper-based minerals.