Profile
Ruth Daniels
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About Me:
I am Ruth and I work as a technical project manager in the research department of a chemical company near Durham. I live in Newcastle with my husband and my cat, Max.
In my free time, I enjoy going for walks in the countryside, crocheting and reading.
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Read more
I like to do craft activities and enjoy doing crochet, which is a bit like knitting. I make blankets and other items as presents for my friends and family. My next project is to crochet myself a cardigan.
I love reading books. The last book I read was about a bookshop in Korea.
I enjoy listening to music and sometimes like to have a dance around my kitchen.
I enjoy cooking and baking. One of my favourite things to bake are snickerdoodles, which are a type of American biscuit. Delicious!
This is a minion that I crocheted for my cousin when he was little.
This is a Victoria sponge that I made for my husband’s birthday.
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
I work as a technical project manager in chemical research. I look after a group of chemists that are doing experiments in a chemistry laboratory. At the moment, I’m helping our chemists to make very big molecules that are called polymers. They look a bit like plastic when they are dry.
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Read more
Most of the time, as a technical project manager, I work in an office now and look after a team of research chemists who are working in the laboratory.
When I’m in the laboratory doing experiments I mix together two or more chemicals in a flask and let them stir together. Most of the time, the experiments work, but sometimes they don’t. When they don’t work, I have to try and work out what has happened so I can make it better next time.
Some of the experiments I have done in the lab have given me very pretty colours.
When I am working in the office I do some emails but also I get to talk to a lot of different scientific experts to get their help on projects that I am working on. It is nice to be part of a team.
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Education:
I went to school in the North West of England. My primary school was called Wesham C of E School and my high school was called Carr Hill High School. This is where I did my GCSEs.
I then went to Cardinal Newman Sixth Form College in Preston to do my A-Levels.
After college, I went to Durham University to study chemistry. This is when I came to the North East for the first time!
After I did my masters degree, I decided to do a PhD. I went to Northumbria University in Newcastle and worked on materials that glow and were to be used in making TV and phone screens. Most of the colours were really pretty.
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Qualifications:
GCSEs:
21st Century Science – A*, Additional Science – A*, Maths – A*, English Literature – A*, Geography – A*, Statistics – A, English Language – A, Spanish – A, D&T Graphic Products – A, IT – A, Music – B, Religious Education – B, General Studies – B
A-Levels:
Chemistry – A, Biology – A, Maths – A, Geography – A, General Studies – A
Critical Thinking (AS Level Only) – B
MChem Master of Chemistry, Degree – 2:1
PhD in Chemistry
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Work History:
After my PhD, I started my job as a research chemist at High Force Research. I did this job for 5 years. I then became a senior research chemist which means I started helping to run the lab and looking after a team of chemists and their projects.
I am now a technical project manager, still at High Force Research, and I now look after two or three projects at a time. I plan the project and speak to the customers via video call and ensure that we deliver the products on time.
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Current Job:
My current job is as a technical project manager at High Force Research in County Durham.
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Employer:
High Force Research Ltd. is a chemical research and manufacturing company near Durham. Our customers range across the chemical and life sciences industries, so this means that we make lots of different products that include polymers for OLED screens and also ingredients for medicines.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Craft-loving chemist
What did you want to be after you left school?
I originally wanted to be an author, but when I left school I wanted to be a scientist.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I love books so I think it would be quite fun to work in a bookshop.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I like Florence + The Machine and London Grammar.
What's your favourite food?
I enjoy a little bit of chocolate as a treat but my favourite main meal is salmon.
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a fish without eyes? Fsh
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