Dr Helen Bridle Curriculum Vitae
WORK EXPERIENCE
Heriot-Watt University. 2017-now
Associate Professor
60%FTE since 2016
Funding:
EPSRC (£15k) 2019: Microalgae and microtechnologies via Reimaging Recruitment (university of Bath) (PI)
SULSA (£10k) 2019: Low cost sensor technology to enable end user testing of drinking water quality (PI)
European Union (€4.5M) 2019-2021: ARREST-TB (CoI; WP leader)
Royal Academy of Engineering (£20k) 2017-2019: Microfluidic diagnostics for global health (PI)
NERC (£450k) 2017-2020: Antimicrobial resistance and pollutants: interactive studies and novel sensor technologies (PI)
IBioIC (£100k) PhD studentship 2018-2022: Microfluidics for microalgae dewatering (PI)
- Royal Society of Edinburgh Innovators Prize for Public Engagement 2016
- Member of the STFC Advisory Panel on Public Engagement since 2017
- Rapid Methods Europe Conference Advisory Board since 2016
- Royal Society of Edinburgh JM Lessells Travel Scholarship Committee Member 2016 onwards
- Organised A One Health Approach to Tackle Toxoplasmosis April 2018 (joint Young Academy and Royal Society of Edinburgh event)
- Member of the University Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team Bronze Renewal 2019
Heriot-Watt University. 2015-2017
Assistant Professor
Funding obtained: ~£250,000 ((MRC Confidence in Concept (2015), Impact Acceleration Award (2015), PhD funding for 2 positions from Watson Currie Scholarship Fund and IBioIC (2015))
- Invited talks at SWIG workshop, Rapid Methods Europe and World Water Congress
- Co-chair of Food and Drink Working Group (Young Academy)
- Panel member for the British Council
- Lead of Communications sub-group with Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team for the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS)
- IB3 representative on the EPS Early Career Researchers Network
- British Science Association Edinburgh Branch Secretary
- Teaching and supervision: Brian Miller awarded PhD, 1st supervisor for 3 PhD students, 2nd supervisor for 2 PhD students
- Principals Award for Public Engagement (Team Prize) for Royal Academy of Engineering funded Ingenious! project "Small Plumbing"
- Runners Up: Interactive Workshop Competition at Heriot-Watt
- Public engagement activities at Glasgow Science Festival 2015, Explorathon Edinburgh 2015, Midlothian Science Festival 2015
- Hosted a school summer student and an IB3 Summer Scholar for summer placements (2015)
- Media coverage of Ingenious! project
Heriot-Watt University. 2012-2015
Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Research Fellow
Funding obtained (at HWU): ~£550,000 (an EU consortium grant (2012), Scottish Crucible (3 projects, 2012/2013), MRC Confidence in Concept (2013), STFC (2013), Impact Acceleration Award (2013), RAEng Ingenious! (2014) plus British Council UKIERI (2014)).
Publications (2014): 2 published (see publications list for all publications)
(2013): 3 published
- Member of The Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland
- Invited Round Table Participant for the European Science Foundation 40th Anniversary Event
- Selected for EPSRC Grand Challenges workshop where I pitched the Water Challenge (subsequently included in the next GC call)
- British Science Association Edinburgh Branch Secretary
- Teaching and supervision: 1st supervisor for 2 PhD students, 2nd supervisor for another 2 PhD students. MEng research project supervision MSc Sustainability Engineering (2012 and 2013), MSc Smart Systems Integration (2013 - present), MEng Year 1 Biology for Chemical Engineering (2014 -present)
- Public engagement activities at Fountainbridge Canal Festival 2014, Bang goes the Borders science festival 2013 and 2014, Chemistry Conversations 2014
- Hosted a Careerwise Placement and as a highly successful example of an academic placement were included as a case study in the evaluation. The student has gone onto achieve a Silver CREST award
- Hosted a Nuffield Summer Scholar, 2 other school students and 1 undergraduate on summer projects
- Media coverage in The Times September 2014; presented to Scotland's First Minister April 2014
University of Edinburgh 2009-2012
EPSRC/Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow. “Biosensors in Engineering: from in situ pathogen detection to global impacts”. Application of microfluidic and biosensor technologies for the detection of waterborne global pathogens. 5 year Fellowship
- Research Interests: novel materials for protozoan detection and treatment; sample concentration and enrichment; miniaturised microfluidics
based detection systems; sensors; determining pathogen species and viability; value of water
- Total research income (obtained at UoE): ~£750,000 (Fellowship plus BBSRC Studentship with Scottish Water 2009, Royal Society Research Grant 2011 and Internal EPSRC Award 2011, Initiating Knowledge Transfer Fund (2012), Heriot-Watt Crucible (2 projects, 2012)).
- Total publications (at UoE): 4 published articles, 1 patent
- Teaching and supervision: 1st supervisor for 1PhD student and 1 MSc (Research) student. MEng thesis supervision. Civil Engineering 1 (2011/12), Group Design Project (2009/10)
- PGCert in University Teaching and Fellow of The Higher Education Academy
- British Science Association Media Fellow 2012 (working at The Scotsman; see media page for more details)
- Other activities: organised workshop with the Sensors for Water Interest Group, 7th December 2011; 1 invited talk at an international conference; 2 workshop presentations; 2 invited talks at other universities; 2 conference posters; member of Journal of Global Health editorial council
International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Edinburgh 2008-2009
Knowledge Transfer Officer. Duties included: increasing the knowledge transfer from ICMS activities, organising specific KT events and public lectures, networking, promoting ICMS activities both to academia and industry; brokering interdisciplinary projects between mathematicians and engineers under the EPSRC Bridging the Gaps funding scheme
International Study Centre at Heriot-Watt University 2008-2009
Life Sciences Programme Tutor. Development and delivery of the life sciences lectures plus supervision of the lab sessions in chemistry, biology and physiology
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden 2003-2008
PhD Student
- 5 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals including PNAS, Lab on a Chip and Analytical Chemistry
- proposed and organised the symposium Applications of Patterned Laminar Flow at The Pittsburgh Conference 2006
- presentations at international conferences (1 talk, 5 posters)
- shared responsibility for managing research labs, regarding booking, maintenance of resources and administration of invoices
Mitsubishi Electric AB, Gothenburg, Sweden 2002-2003
Consultant. Duties included: analysis of the suitability of different technologies for a specific application; explaining technologies and research developments to non-specialists
Textor Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland 2002/2003
Research Assistant. Two 3 month summer projects: characterisation of a self assembled monolayer for surface modification applications, e.g biosensors. Techniques: XPS, SPR, AFM, contact angle measurements, microfabrication, polymer synthesis
Various Clients 2001-2008
English language services. Duties included: preparation of lesson plans and course material; delivery of English language classes both one-to-one and groups; proof-reading of PhD theses and scientific publications; translation and redesign of company website
The English School, Gothenburg 2000-2001
Pupils Assistant. Helping children to learn in all subjects. Ages 6-8
EDUCATION
Orwar Research Group, Chalmers Technical University, Sweden 2003-2008
Ph.D. Biotechnology. Independently managing different projects related to extending the functionality of a microfluidic device developed for drug screening.Thesis: “Techniques to manipulate the environment around and inside single cells”. Selected for and attended The 18th Nobel Laureate Meeting at Lindau. Travel grants from the Sven and Gurli Hansson donation fund as well as the Chalmers Fund for internationalization of PhD education
Chalmers Technical University, Gothenburg, Sweden 2001-2003
M.Sc. Advanced Materials. Thesis work: “Future Display Technologies” for Mitsubishi Electric.
The Rotary International Scholarship for International Students in Gothenburg 2002
University of Durham, England 1997-2000
B.Sc. Natural Sciences. First Class Honours. Subjects studied: Chemistry, Maths, Philosophy
The Peter Rowe Memorial Award for the best overall performance in Natural Sciences Maths 1998
Corfe Hills School, Broadstone, Dorset 1995-1997
A Levels. French: A, Maths: A, Chemistry: A, Economics: B
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Completed Marathon des Sables (6 marathons in 6 days in the Sahara): 301st, 20th lady, raised almost £9000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research
World Orienteering Championships: 6th place, Denmark 2006. World University Orienteering Championships (WUOC): 2 x Gold medals, Relay, 2002, 2006. 1 x Silver, Long distance 2006
Full UK Driving Licence. Computer skills: competent in all aspects of Microsoft Office. Experience of coaching orienteering and mentoring elite athletes. Fluent written/spoken Swedish (TISUS test)
Marketing in Practice Qualification from The Open University 2010
REFERENCES: Available on request
