Invited Speakers

Dr Anita Brady-Boyd (Lecturer in Physics, Aberystwyth University)
Prof Caroline Gray OBE (Emeritus Professor, Wrexham University)
Dr Zoë Henderson (Advanced Technologist, NSG Group)
Ms Eleni Marshall (Graduate Vacuum Materials Scientist, STFC)

Anita Brady-Boyd

Anita obtained her PhD from Dublin City University in Ireland in 2018, with a focus on utilising surface science solutions to solve problems for nanoelectronics. She then started a PDRA position in Aberystwyth University, working in the area of photovoltaic cells with an emphasis on organic hole transporting materials and perovskite solar cells. Anita was awarded a Marie Skłodowska–Curie Individual Fellowship by the European Commission in 2020 and moved to Belgium to work for the nanoelectronics company Imec. Here Anita’s work focused on area selective deposition to allow “bottom up” nanofabrication of electronic devices. Recently, Anita has moved back to Aberystwyth University to take up a lectureship position. She remains committed to research and is continuing her work on area selective deposition.

Caroline Gray OBE

Recently retired from the position of Director of the Wrexham University owned OpTIC Technology Centre. A dedicated business and incubator facility based at the heart of the A55 corridor and currently working as a freelance technical consultant within the Optics industry,

Graduated in Physics from LJMU, have worked within the Optical industry for 38+ years. Awarded the OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours 2022 and awarded Emeritus Professor status with WU 2024.

A specialist in optical component fabrication and measurement techniques, specifically Single Point Diamond Machining and CNC controlled optical processing/polishing of sub-wavelength accuracy complex surfaces.

Previously worked for Pilkington Visioncare, Pilkington Space Technology (technical), Optics and Vision (optical design consultancy), Phoenix Optical Technologies (MD & Technical Director), and acted as consultant Project Manager (via own Technical Consultancy, Optics Knowhow Ltd.) for the ESO project at the OpTIC Centre which successfully delivered prototype mirror segments and test components for the ESO ELT Telescope primary mirror.

Zoë Henderson

Zoë graduated in 2016 with a Master of Physics from the University of Liverpool. She then obtained her PhD at the University of Lancashire (formerly University of Central Lancashire) with Dr Karen Syres as her supervisor, investigating surface structure and interactions of ionic liquids for energy applications. After graduating in 2019, she was then a Faraday Institution Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, carrying out research in the field of lithium ion battery technology until 2021. She then departed from academia and started her career in industry, and currently works at the glass manufacturer NSG Pilkington in the role of Advanced Technologist in the Surface Analysis and Spectroscopy team.

Eleni Marshall

I work for the Science and Technology facilities council as a Vacuum Materials Scientist. I am part of the accelerator department, and my work involves the deposition and analysis of metallic thin-film coatings called non-evaporable getters, for use inside future particle accelerators. This work has given me a lot of opportunities, such as presenting at international conferences, and publishing academic papers in the journal Vacuum.

To get here, I achieved an integrated MEng in Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester University, completing a Masters project on simulating the grain structure development within 3D printed Titanium. I then joined STFC via its graduate scheme, which over 2 years provided me with a good basis of support and knowledge in career skills, alongside learning the specifics of my new role. I have now been at STFC for 4 years, and have taken on more responsibility, such as running several vacuum facilities, and being the outreach lead for my department.