Dr Apala Majumdar, EPSRC Research Fellow and Reader in Mathematical Sciences and Dr Adelina Ilie, Reader in Nanoscience in the Department of Physics and lead researcher and co-inventor of a stick-on patch for non-invasive monitoring of glucose in diabetics, have been selected as a finalist of the Academic category of the 2019 FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards.
The annual national awards programme uncovers and celebrates the most inspirational women working within STEM industries and recognises their role in inspiring and supporting the next generation. There are three finalists in total for the Academic category, selected from a field of hundreds of applicants, chosen by a panel of senior technology leaders against criteria including career achievement, potential societal impact of their research and their commitment to supporting others in the industry.
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 6 March 2019 in London, attended by over 500 industry leaders, government and the media. The awards champion and raise the profile of the individual women that are achieving success in their field, and the companies that are supporting them to do so.
Finalist Dr Apala Majumdar
Dr Majumdar moved to the University of Bath in 2012 and is currently Director of the University’s Centre for Non Linear Mechanics. Her research into the mathematics of material science, specifically into liquid crystals, aims to make LCD screens found in TVs and phones cheaper and more efficient.
She won the British Liquid Crystal Society Young Scientist Award in 2012 and the London Mathematical Society Anne Bennett prize in 2015. She is a member of the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences programme committee and has organised numerous international workshops.
She has held visiting professorships at Beijing Normal University, IIT Bombay, Shanghai Jia Tong, visiting fellowships at Oxford, Cambridge and the Chinese Academy and is principal investigator for projects involving overseas partners in India and China.
Her industrial research collaborations have included Merck and Hewlett Packard.
She was nominated by former senior colleague at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford, Professor Alain Goriely, who said: “I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for an academic award for young women who are inspiring other female researchers around the world.
“Her publication record is stellar, her research inspiring, and she has single-handedly built an international network spanning four continents, making her one of the world leaders in her field and most internationally recognised of her generation.
“This award is a wonderful recognition of her many talents and achievements.”
Apala Majumdar said: "I would like to thank Professor Alain Goriely for nominating me. The wider support in my department at Bath, from the Head of Department and various colleagues, has been vital for raising my profile and building international links.
“It is very satisfying to see senior male academics championing the academic credentials of female researchers as they climb up the ladder."
Chris Budd OBE, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Deputy Director of the Institute for Mathematical Innovation at the University of Bath, said: “Apala is without question one of the most talented young applied mathematicians working in the UK.
“She has been a great role model for female mathematicians, and has shown them clearly how good a senior female mathematician can be. We are all very excited and proud that she has been named a finalist for this prestigious award.”
Finalist Dr Adelina Ilie
Dr Ilie is an expert in nanotechnology, designing new systems – using graphene and other novel 2D materials – whose functions are tailored at the atomic level. Applications of her research include future IT platforms and a non-invasive monitoring technology that measures glucose levels through the skin without requiring calibration via a painful finger-prick test. This technology could transform the lives of diabetics and pre-diabetics by non-invasively monitoring their blood glucose levels in real time to help manage their condition.
Dr Ilie was one of two initiators of the Bath Centre for Graphene Science, for which she secured a multi-million pound Science and Innovation Award from the UK government, and she is also a member of Bath's Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
In a scientific field traditionally dominated by men, Dr Ilie has established a diverse research group, with roughly 50 per cent of the students and postdoctoral researchers being women.
She initiated the Career Progression Advisory Group in the Physics department to assist all academic staff, from new appointees to senior academics, to make compelling and successful cases for promotion.
She was nominated by Carole Mundell, Professor of Extragalactic Astronomy and Head of Astrophysics at the University of Bath.
Professor Mundell said: “I’d like to congratulate Adelina on being selected a finalist for these prestigious awards.
“With her impressive portfolio of research spanning fundamental science and real-world applications, she is an outstanding role model for young women and others who aspire to make a difference both within science, technology and beyond.”
Dr Ilie said: "I’m delighted to be a finalist for this award and would like to thank my colleagues for their support. I’m particularly excited about the FDM everywoman in Technology Awards because they recognise women’s contributions across many aspects of the tech industry – arising from both the academic and industrial environments.
“I hope that if girls are aware of these awards, and the huge societal impact research has the potential to deliver, it might inspire them towards a career in science and technology.”
Previous winners from the University include Professor Semali Perera in 2017 and Professor Carole Mundell who was named Woman of the Year at the awards in 2016.