My current research utilises a combination of chemometrics and infrared spectroscopy for investigation of the invasive plant species Japanese knotweed, supported by the environmental consultancy Phlorum Ltd and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation. I am particularly interested by the ways in which chemistry can enhance our understanding of biological systems, a curiosity which has grown since my graduation from Durham University with a master’s in science. Previous research topics have included the role of reactive oxygen species in the stress tolerance of plants, and the effect of fluorescent synthetic retinoids on human skin cells for the new therapeutic solutions developed by LightOx.