Katie performed a wide range of experiments spanning different neutron spectroscopy techniques, taking her across the globe to facilities in Japan, France and Switzerland. Her project focused on how lignin, a component of biomass that is difficult to convert to useful products, behaves in a range of commercially available porous zeolite catalysts. The research could help scientists optimise catalysts to convert lignin into biofuels and other valuable compounds used by the chemicals industry.
The Founder's Award recognises the most promising PhD student each year working in the field of micro- or mesoporous research.
Katie says, "I was honoured to receive the Founders award at the 2025 British Zeolite Association conference for my PhD thesis, huge thanks to everyone who made the conference so great! It is especially meaningful to follow in the footsteps of my supervisor Dr Alex O'Malley, who received the award in 2016 and also did his PhD at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. The Neutron scattering techniques I was lucky enough to access ISIS were essential to every chapter of my thesis, providing a vital real-world comparison to computational modelling. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone at ISIS who supported the project, from sample preparation to data analysis, and especially to my ISIS supervisor Dr Jeff Armstrong!"
ISIS scientist Dr Jeff Armstrong supervised Katie during her work at ISIS. He says, “"I'm absolutely delighted to see Katie recognised for the outstanding work she has carried out over the past four years. Her PhD demanded a rare combination of skills, from lab-based sample preparation and characterisation, to multiple neutron scattering techniques, and advanced molecular simulation methods. By integrating these approaches, she has provided deep molecular insight into catalytic mechanisms at the heart of renewable energy production. The breadth and quality of her publications during this time have set a new benchmark for how future experiments in the field will be conducted."
Katie's research is explored in more detail in this ISIS Science Highlight: ISIS Helping biomass leaf crude oil behind by decoding the diffusion of cresol in catalysts
