Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
I studied Sociology at university while working part-time at Waitrose. Just before the world went into the COVID-19 lockdown I’d secured my first role at King’s as Operations Assistant in the Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine and officially joined in June 2020. Over 5 years at King’s, I’ve worked within the School of Basic & Medical Biosciences with the CGTRM, CHAPS and SJID. I'm now an Operations Officer supporting the Aerospace Medicine & Extreme Physiology Research Group within the Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences.
Do you have any current projects that you’d like to tell us about?
I'm currently involved in the Space 4 All Community, founded by Dr Irene Di Giulio, which I'm really proud to share. It was launched in response to the European Space Agency’s Parastronaut Feasibility Project, which explores the inclusion of astronauts with physical disabilities in future space missions. The aim of Space 4 All is to promote accessibility in spaceflight and to involve people with disabilities as active contributors, not just observers, in shaping the future of human space exploration.
We’ve hosted community engagement workshops bringing together para-athletes, space professionals, and advocates to explore barriers and solutions in space accessibility. We also ran a public design competition that received a fantastic response from contributors, and we’re now preparing to launch our second: the Space 4 All Challenge, which invites innovative, inclusive ideas to help make space more accessible to everyone.
What is your favourite part of your role?
I love helping to facilitate meaningful research that my colleagues are passionate about. Their enthusiasm, determination, and resilience brighten even the more tedious parts of my role.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The launch of the second Space 4 All Challenge and the project’s involvement with the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition. Last time, the entries we received were genuinely inspiring - full of creativity, thoughtfulness, and a real passion for inclusion. It was amazing to see how people responded to the idea of making space more accessible, and I can’t wait to see what this next round brings.
What do you think people in the School would find most surprising about you?
People might be surprised to learn that I’m autistic. I was diagnosed as an adult, and I mask heavily, which means I often come across as calm and capable, even when I’m overwhelmed underneath. Sharing this still doesn’t feel easy, but I think it’s important because autism doesn’t always look the way people expect it to.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I’d love to still be working in a role that supports impactful research and public engagement. And personally, I’d like to feel more settled in how I navigate work as a neurodivergent person - building in more space for sustainability, rest, and authenticity, and supporting others to do the same.
QUICK-FIRE:
Favourite season: Spring
Favourite book: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Coffee order: Cappuccino
Your pet peeve: People who use the song “I will always love you” as the first dance for their wedding. It’s a breakup song.