Biography

Understanding the deep foundations of our universe has excited me since before I can remember, and as I grew and developed, so did my affinity for science. Physics in particular has and continues to captivate me as it tackles the most fundamental principles governing the natural world. Bridging the antipodean gap from New Zealand to study for a PhD in physics at Cambridge is a childhood dream come true.My project will use state-of-the-art photonics to observe interactions between metals and molecules in real-time, giving unprecedented insights into catalysis and other essential reactions on which our world depends. Expanding our understanding in these areas can open new avenues toward improving energy efficiency and minimising waste in ubiquitous industrial processes. I hope to use the gifts granted to me to meaningfully contribute to this field.I am especially excited to live and work at the centre of a multidisciplinary intellectual and cultural hub. Grappling with critical contemporary issues requires more than just advances in physics or engineering, but the best ideas from all disciplines. As a Gates Scholar, I get to be a part of a diverse community in which this collaboration can happen, and I could not be more thrilled.