WiES Mentor Scheme

If you could offer your support to someone as a WiES mentor, or if you would like the support of one as a mentee, you can sign up to take part as either a mentor or a mentee (or both!) by contacting Rosemary Willatt (r.willatt@ucl.ac.uk). We will then make introductions between suitable mentors and mentees. 

Agathe Detanger, Environment Engineer

I am Agathe Detanger, a french UCL Environmental Geoscientist alumni. After completing 4 years at UCL, I have no doubt that my studies have played a key role in giving me the tools to be a confident and forward thinking woman in science. After graduating in 2020, I started my career as a Environmental Engineer at Veolia Environmental Services working on a landfill site in Hong Kong (SENT Landfill). I then moved to Surabaya, Indonesia, where I worked as a Project Manager on Operations Optimization Projects for a PET recycling plant in East Java with Veolia. Currently, I am the manager of the Technical and Maintenance Division of a bottle to bottle PET recycling plant in Tsuyama, Japan. I am very pleased to be a part of the WiES team and look forward to exchanging thoughts and experiences around UCL, London and getting started in the working world!

Isobel Lawrence, Research Fellow at the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), Northumbria University

Isobel Lawrence is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), based at Northumbria University. She is an expert in sea ice remote sensing and the climate change of the polar regions. Isobel graduated from UCL in 2011 with an MSci in Geophysics, spending her third year studying in Grenoble, France, as part of the Erasmus programme. Subsequently, Isobel was awarded a scholarship by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to do an MSc in Science Communication and Media Production at Imperial College London. On completion of her Master's, Isobel moved to Bristol and spent two years working as a camera and edit assistant in Natural History television, before returning to UCL in 2015 to start a PhD in Polar Remote Sensing. After graduating in 2019 Isobel started as a post doctoral researcher with CPOM at the University of Leeds, and in 2022 moved to Frascati Rome, to take up a position as a Research Fellow at the European Space Agency. Since April 2025, she has been working for Northumbria University, researching sea ice loss in the Southern Ocean. Isobel has experience of (participating in and organising) international meetings, writing funding applications and project proposals, speaking to the media about her work, and outreach with school children. She has also conducted fieldwork in the Arctic and Antarctica. 

Chaneil James, Senior Data Analyst at CDP

Chaneil James, MSc, is an interdisciplinary Earth and Space Scientist, currently working as a Senior Data Analyst at CDP, where she transforms climate, forest, and water data into policy-facing insights. She holds a BSc in Earth Sciences from University College London and an MSc in Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology from the University of Barcelona. Her research spans planetary geoscience and solar physics, including the use of satellite data to study suprathermal particles from the Sun.

She has previously worked at the Frontier Development Lab and CERN, served as a scientific journalist for Physics World, and contributed as a subject matter expert to NASA SpaceApps and the United Nations. 

As the founder of AstroNoir, a platform that champions inclusive STEAM education, Chaneil is dedicated to making Earth and space sciences accessible to all - bridging the gap between civil society, academia, industry, and policymakers.

Jo Reynolds, Low Carbon Geophysicist BP

Jo Jepson Reynolds graduated from UCL in 2014 with a First Class MSci in Geophysics. After a year of travel, she joined bp in 2015 as a Geophysicist in Aberdeen. Here, she supported well planning using 4D seismic analysis. She has since built a broad career spanning technical, strategic, and corporate roles.

Jo has worked across exploration, upstream delivery, and low carbon development, including in bp’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) screening team. She has also held high-profile advisory roles supporting bp’s CEO and Chair, focusing on strategic engagement, governance, and external partnerships.

Alongside her core roles, Jo co-founded bp’s Global Sustainability Network, a community of over 6,000 employees worldwide. She is passionate about connecting science, business, and leadership – and helping others navigate careers with impact and purpose.

Lu Zhou, Assistant Professor, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University

Dr. Lu Zhou is an Assistant Professor of polar remote sensing at the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University. Dr. Zhou received a PhD in 2021 from Tsinghua University and subsequently held a postdoctoral position at the University of Gothenburg. Research integrates satellite altimetry and Earth observation with modeling to quantify Antarctic and Arctic sea ice and air-ice-ocean interactions. At Utrecht, Dr. Zhou teaches remote sensing, climate change in context and earth system modeling. Current projects span multi-sensor fusion and validation with in situ and airborne data. Service includes the world climate research programme (WCRP) Southern Ocean Region Panel member and the Dutch Earth Observation Committee.

Gayle Hough, Senior Geohazard Specialist, BP

Gayle Hough has a MSci in Geology from UCL and a MRes in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, graduating from the latter in 2006. Her masters research was on understanding the processes and depositional characteristics of giant gravity flow deposits offshore northwest Africa, after which she had a desire to apply her training to practical problems outside of academia.

After spending a number of years as a geohazard consultant, working first for Halcrow, an engineering company, and then RPS Group, Gayle moved to bp where she is now a Senior Geohazard Specialist. This work involves looking at natural geological processes that may present a direct or indirect risk to offshore operations and people. This includes assessing the potential geohazard risks whilst planning a well in an O&G or CCUS project, or identifying potential shallow geohazards to foundation conditions, ahead of a windfarm installation. Geohazards is relevant to every offshore project that interacts with the seabed, so her work spreads right across the bp portfolio. This means every day and every project is different, getting involved in work from all around the world in a variety of settings. Gayle is also part of the STEM Ambassador programme, inspiring children and young people to consider a career in STEM through delivering workshops and careers talks.

Dr Martha Pamato, Associate Professor of Mineralogy at the Department of Geosciences, University of Padua

Martha Pamato is a mineral physicist studying the behaviour of minerals under Earth’s deep mantle conditions. With an interdisciplinary geological background, she combines experimental and theoretical methods with the study of natural specimens, to understand global geodynamics and the evolution of Earth into a habitable planet. Martha graduated from the University of Padua (Italy) with a B.Sc. in Geological Sciences in 2008. She then moved to Germany where she obtained both her M.Sc. (2010) and PhD (2014) in Experimental Geosciences at the Bayerisches Geoinstitut, University of Bayreuth. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate she spent a year in the United States at the University of Urbana-Champaign (IL) and then moved to the University College London (UCL) in 2015. At UCL she investigated changes in material properties just prior their melting, the so-called pre-melting effects, with implications to the Earth’s core and the evolution of our planet. Martha was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) fellowship in 2018 and moved to the University of Padua (Italy) in 2019 to study unique natural samples from the deep Earth, i.e., sulphide inclusions in diamonds, which are the key tool to date diamond formation via Re-Os isotopic analyses. In 2021, she obtained an ERC starting grant for the project INHERIT (2023-2027), which aims to determine Earth’s primordial hydrogen isotopic signature and content through analysis of a unique set of worldwide, natural diamonds. The new results will be fundamental to pinpoint Earth’s water origin with long-term implications for understanding planet habitability, in our Solar System and beyond. She is now an Associate Professor of Mineralogy in the Department of Geosciences, University of Padua.

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF)

Kate Henderson has a BSc in Geology from UCL, graduating in 2002, and a MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, graduating in 2005. Kate is a highly regarded commentator on housing and urban policy, and is involved in a number of government panels and independent commissions including being appointed to the government’s New Towns Taskforce. Since 2018 Kate has been Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF). Prior to joining the NHF Kate was Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA). While not working in earth sciences, Kate still loves geology and is passionate about tackling the housing crisis, inequality and climate change.

Sammie Buzzard, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University

Sammie is a glaciologist at Northumbria University. Her research focuses on the surface melting of Antarctica’s ice shelves, simulating how and where ice shelves may become vulnerable to sudden collapse and how Antarctica might contribute to sea level rise. She also has interests in Greenland melting and Arctic sea ice and has been lucky enough to visit both poles. As a lecturer, she has taught a variety of topics to university students, including climate change, computer modelling for earth scientists and international fieldwork.

Jasmina Stanimirovic, Geological Engineer

I have built a global career in the mining and natural resources sector, leading projects across Africa, Asia, and Europe — from hands-on exploration in the field to managing operational mines and shaping corporate strategy. With a degree in geology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia and a Master’s degree from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, I bring a strong academic foundation and a comprehensive understanding of the full mine-to-market lifecycle. I have worked and travelled extensively for industry roles in countries including South Africa, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Australia, and Mozambique, to name a few. As a STEM Ambassador, I also work with schools to promote the potential of natural resources and inspire interest in geosciences and engineering. I am passionate about sharing the industry experience and leadership insights I have gained across diverse geographies and cultures, and I am committed to mentoring students as they navigate their academic and professional journeys in this dynamic industry.

Professor Sophie Nowicki, Empire Innovation Professor, Department of Geology, University at Buffalo

Sophie Nowicki graduated from UCL in 2007 with a PhD in Theoretical Glaciology from the Earth Science Department and the Center for Polar Observation and Modeling (CPOM). She then became a civil servant at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In 2020, Sophie moved to the Department of Geology at the University at Buffalo. She studies how ice sheets interact with the global climate system and in particular affect sea level change, using a combination of applied mathematics, remote sensing observations and numerical modeling. The numerical models that she uses span the spectrum of idealized models to large-scale continental ice sheet models. Key to her work are climate models, since they are key for providing climatic forcing for ice sheet model, such as the intercomparison project for CMIP (ISMIP6 and ISMIP7).

Professor Sophie Nowicki's Profile

Antonia Hawker, Noise and Vibration Scientist at the Health and Safety Executive

Antonia Hawker graduated from UCL in 2014 with a BSc in Geophysics. Following this she spent 2 years working with children with special needs before moving to Manchester to complete a Masters in Astrophysics at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. Antonia is now working as a Noise and Vibration Scientist at the Health and Safety Executive. In 2018 she won a Recognition Award for Scientific Excellence. Antonia leads on work which aims to reduce the risk of Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Hand-arm Vibration syndrome in the workplace. This requires measuring and testing in industries such as foundries, forestry and construction. Recent work has included noise testing of Chain-saws as part of a European market surveillance project and testing of innovative technology as alternatives to standard angle grinders. Antonia has been involved in the development of HSE guidance on noise and vibration in the workplace which has been published in the public domain. In addition Antonia frequently presents work at subject specialist conferences across the UK and internationally as a national expert.

Dr Grace Campbell, Earthquake Geologist and Remote Sensing Specialist in Arup's Natural Hazard and Risk Management Team, London

Dr Grace Campbell is an earthquake geologist and remote sensing specialist in Arup's Natural Hazard and Risk Management Team, London. She works with engineers and scientists to better quantify and mitigate the impacts of earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and climate change on people and places. Grace assessed the impacts of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Japan as part of the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team and worked with the United Nations Office for Project Services to help develop a remediation and regenerative engineering design for an area of Freetown, Sierra Leone, that was devastated following a fatal landslide in 2017. Before joining Arup, Grace completed a Masters in Remote Sensing and Environmental Science and a PhD in continental earthquake hazard, focussed on assessing active faulting in Central Asia.

Dr Grace Campbells Profile

Dr. Emma Bowden, Geomodelling Specialist for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Technical Centre

Dr. Emma Bowden lives in Abu Dhabi, with her husband and son, and works as the Geomodelling Specialist for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Technical Centre.

Emma graduated from UCL in 2002 with a BSc, and a PhD in Geology. She had an 18-year international career with Schlumberger living and working in various locations including Scotland, Eastern Europe, the UAE, and Ecuador. For most of her Schlumberger career she worked as a Geomodelling Consultant for numerous Oil and Gas Companies, building 3D sub-surface reservoir models for predicting hydrocarbon reserves, and for oil and gas field development planning.

She joined ADNOC Onshore in 2020 as a part of their Technical Centre team to train and mentor their technical staff, and to advise and develop technical Standard Operating Procedures and Standards for Geomodelling within ADNOC.

Emma enjoyed her time at UCL and studied alongside people she is happy to be friends with 20 years later. She feels one of the most important lessons she learnt from her time there, was that is important to find a place of study or work where you feel you fit in, and you and your colleagues support one another.

Harriet Jarlett runs communications for the European Space Agency's research and development programmes

Harriet Jarlett runs communications for the European Space Agency's research and development programmes.  Her work includes producing and editing news items and annual reports, coordinating conferences, and building engaging media campaigns to promote ESA's future technologies. Prior to this, Harriet worked at CERN as both a science writer and web editor, where she was particularly proud of the In Theory campaign, which highlighted physicists and brought theoretical physics into the spotlight. Harriet's background is in Earth Science, she completed her first master's degree in Geology at UCL in 2010, before undertaking a second masters in Science Communication from Imperial College London. Her first role was as content engagement manager for NERC.