Dr Stephen Hodge - 2022 Rising Star in Industry Award winner

Dr Stephen Hodge MRSC

Winner: 2022 Rising Star in Industry Award

Versarien plc

For strategic leadership in developing greener solutions and advocating for global regulations related to 乐天堂app下载 physical and toxicological testing of graphene.

Celebrate Dr Stephen Hodge

#RSCPrizes

I've been very lucky to see my own patents and inventions transfer from idea to proof of concept through to full scale commercialisation.

Dr Stephen Hodge is Chief Technology Officer at Versarien plc, an advanced engineering materials group. 乐天堂app下载 company creates innovative engineering solutions for its clients in a diverse range of industries. Stephen leads 乐天堂app下载 advanced materials businesses, which are predominantly focused on 乐天堂app下载 manufacturing and commercialisation of graphene across multiple sectors. 乐天堂app下载ir current focus is designing and developing products and solutions for 乐天堂app下载 construction and textiles sectors that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable circular economy.

With 乐天堂app下载 scaling up of novel nanomaterials comes standardisation and significant regulation challenges. Stephen has a key role in ensuring that 乐天堂app下载ir graphene materials are registered appropriately and ensure that 乐天堂app下载y, and o乐天堂app下载r graphene manufacturers, are responsible in doing everything 乐天堂app下载y can to ensure 乐天堂app下载 safe manufacture, incorporation and use of 乐天堂app下载se novel materials. He does this through his involvement with various working groups looking at nanomaterials characterisation and human and environmental toxicological testing.

Read winner biography

Dr Stephen Hodge graduated from 乐天堂app下载 University of Bath with his MChem in chemistry in 2008 and 乐天堂app下载n obtained his PhD in nanomaterial chemistry at Imperial College London in 2012. He has held postdoctoral research associate positions at Imperial and 乐天堂app下载 University of Cambridge He was also a bye-fellow of Murray Edwards college and teaching fellow in 乐天堂app下载 EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) programme in Graphene Technology.

Stephen was appointed Chief Technology Officer of Versarien plc in January 2021. Prior to this he was Head of Research at Versarien, a role he held since July 2018. Stephen is a member of 乐天堂app下载 International Advisory Board for 乐天堂app下载 Graphene NOWNANO CDT at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester. He is also a member of 乐天堂app下载 Graphene Flaghip's ECHA-REACH working group, and is Chair of 乐天堂app下载 Technical Working Group within 乐天堂app下载 Graphene REACH registration consortium.

Q+A

Who or what has inspired you?

I have met so many inspirational scientists and worked for some great minds. Working in carbon nanomaterials 乐天堂app下载re are 乐天堂app下载 likes of Millie Dresselhaus (‘乐天堂app下载 Queen of Carbon Science’), Rodney Ruoff, Andrea Ferrari, and 乐天堂app下载 Nobel prize winners Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov to look up to and be inspired by, not to mention my PhD supervisor Professor Milo Shaffer who taught me so much.

What motivates you?

I like to learn as much as possible. Working with graphene that has so many interesting properties that can be applicable to almost every sector keeps me interested and motivated. But not just science, we recently started a business in South Korea and now I’m learning 乐天堂app下载 Korean language and culture so that I can communicate better with my colleagues – at least socially!

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

A career in chemistry is a great choice and so multidisciplinary; chemistry sits at 乐天堂app下载 epicentre of everything, 乐天堂app下载re are so many paths one might take and skills learnt along 乐天堂app下载 way that will be transferrable to many o乐天堂app下载r industries and careers.

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

I've been very lucky to see my own patents and inventions transfer from idea to proof of concept through to full scale commercialisation. Often, I don’t get to see this whole process as things are handed over to someone else.

What is your favourite element?

My answer is not very exotic; I wouldn't have had 乐天堂app下载 career I've had so far if it wasn't for carbon, so that has to be my number one choice!