We have a interdiscplinary team of researchers, experimental officers and fellows pushing the boundaries in plastics sustainability.
Director | Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub
As Director of the Sustainable Materials innovation Hub, Mike has oversight of the organisation’s leadership and strategy, and provides a wealth of materials science knowledge to help identify truly sustainable solutions for plastics. Michael is passionate about giving accurate, trustworthy advice to those seeking to make sustainable change and has been an impartial advisor to both local and national government on research and innovation strategy for plastics. His background is in Polymer Chemistry, having graduated from Mt. Allison University in Canada and going on to pursue a PhD from the University of British Columbia. In 2018, Michael moved to Manchester, having previously relocated to Edinburgh from Canada. He took up a role as Professor of Polymer Chemistry at The University of Manchester and became The Henry Royce Institute’s sustainable materials champion. This new position is a departure from the chemical traditions of his training, but recognises the increasingly important real-world applications of this science. Mike’s initial career aspirations were to become an artist and this creative expression can be seen within his research when developing novel polymers for real-world applications.
Chief Sleeping Officer
Callie is an honorary member of the team. She’s a former racing greyhound and we rescued her from Greyhound Rescue Fife. She was born in Durham and, while she’s super-duper fast, she wasn’t up to the high standards of evil greyhound racers. So now she is part of our family! She loves sleeping and meeting new people. In fact, she’s a registered TheraPet, working at care homes to brighten up people’s lives. She’s a pretty mellow girl unless there are bread rolls or squirrels involved!
Chief Eating Officer
Sammie is an honorary member of the team, who made the long journey across the Atlantic with Mike. He is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, but is Canadian born. He loves Manchester because he gets to drink in pubs (his favourite is Reasons to be Cheerful!). But he still misses the deep snow and enticing skunks of PEI – although it does mean fewer baths!
Postdoctoral Fellow
Senior Experimental Officer
As our Senior Experimental Officer, Chloe is responsible for experimental techniques associated with the synthesis, processing, characterisation, and testing of polymer-based materials. Since completing her PhD, Chloe has been facilitating materials research at The University of Manchester. Chloe started her career working in the cleanrooms of the National Graphene Institute before moving to work in the thermal analysis and polymer chemistry laboratories in the Department of Materials. Chloe is excited to use her experience and knowledge to deliver projects that help industrial partners make more sustainable processes and products.
Experimental Officer
Technician
Chemical Materials Design Technician
Postdoctoral Researcher
Jair Esquivel was born in Mexico City. He obtained his BSc in Chemistry and MSc in Chemical Sciences at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Then, Jair moved to the UK to pursue his PhD at the University of Manchester under supervision of Prof. Michael Turner, working on conjugated polymer nanoparticles. After obtaining his PhD, Jair worked for nearly a year for a nanotechnology spin-out based in Manchester. Looking for new experiences, Jair went to Canada to work as a postdoc at Université de Montréal, focusing on porphyrin-based polymers. Missing the Mancunian spirit, Jair came back to Manchester in August 2021 to join Shaver group as KTP Associate, aiming to improve the sustainability of glass fibre composites for insulation products.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Steve is a postdoctoral research associate working on the Sustainable Futures platform. His role includes coordinating, developing ideas and helping to deliver research centred around Sustainable Futures’ 6 main themes. He joined the University of Manchester following a postdoc at Exeter focused on sustainable business, after completing doctoral research on the re-use of contaminated land at the University of Reading and the British Geological Survey. His academic background is in Geography and Environmental Science. He is passionate about the interaction between the human and natural worlds and environmental challenges.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Lynn obtained her PhD in Chemistry from Northumbria University in 2023, developing recyclable thermoset epoxy-amine polymers. Joining the SMI Hub on a collaboration with automotive manufacturer Polestar™ in 2023, her research focusses on sustainable automotive polymers through means of chemical depolymerisation and mechanical recycling, in the desire for climate neutrality.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Christina joined as a postdoctoral research associate in 2020 and works in collaboration with Unilever on the synthesis and testing of bio-based and degradable polymers for liquid formulations. Her other research interests include green chemistry and sustainable lab practices. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Reading which included a year in industry at Johnson Matthey, where she worked in Fuel Cell R&D. She then completed a PhD at University College London exploring polymeric pharmaceutics and later applied this to studying polymeric self-assembly for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes at Somaserve Ltd. She is passionate about building sustainability into research, achieved the first gold LEAF lab award at UoM and helps lead lab sustainability efforts across the university. She actively supports outreach activities and events which promote equality, diversity and inclusion within STEMM.
Postgraduate Researcher
Arpan graduated from the University of Manchester with a master’s in Chemistry with Industrial Experience. In his year in industry he focused on low-volatile-organic-compound, environmentally friendly alternatives to antioxidants in polyurethane systems. Following his graduation, Arpan left chemistry and stumbled into a variety of data-focused roles within marketing; as manager, director, analyst and consultant. Looking for a way to produce more impactful work, he returned to Manchester and Chemistry in 2021, joining the Green Materials Lab. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Materials, focusing on responsive extrusion and plastic recycling.
Postgraduate Researcher
Ziwei obtained her B.S. in Engineering at Guangdong University of Technology and completed her Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at the same institution, focusing on processing-morphology-properties relationship of polymer-based composites filled with graphene nanoplatelets. In September 2021, she joined our group and is working on the catalytic activity of lewis acids for the synthesis of sustainable polymers.
Postgraduate Researcher
I grew up in rural Shropshire before moving to Nottingham to study for my Masters in Chemistry, completing my final year project with Michael George and Sir Martyn Poliakoff in the field of asymmetric photocatalysis. I then joined the University of Manchester as part of the iCAT CDT; in July 2022 I started my PhD project under the supervision of Micheal Shaver and Anthony Green, working on re-engineering PET depolymerase enzymes for the selective depolymerisation of alternate plastic substrates.
Postgraduate Researcher
Yuyao was born in a northern chinese city, Changchun, known for its snowy winters. He completed his undergraduate studies at Jilin University (JLU), majoring in Polymer Science and Engineering. In his third undergraduate year, he was given the opportunity to continue his studies at the University of Manchester (UoM) for both his bachelor's and master's degrees. During his time at UoM, he worked in Prof. Michael Shaver's group on polymer additives for PET mechanical recycling, successfully completing his master's degree. He chose to remain with Prof. Michael Shaver's group to pursue his Ph.D., where he is currently focused on the synthesis and optimisation of additives for plastic recycling processes.
Postgraduate Researcher
Eloise studied at the University of Nottingham from 2017-2021 and graduated with a Master's in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry. In her 3rd year, she undertook an assessed year in industry working in early-stage drug discovery at GlaxoSmithKline. She then completed her Master's project under the supervision of Professor Luisa Ciano, investigating the development of a spin tag to facilitate the study of carbohydrate active enzymes via electron paramagnetic (EPR) spectroscopy. In September 2022, she joined the group and is working the synthesis of sustainable polymer composites.
Postgraduate Researcher
Enter Dominic Harris-Jukes; the Sheff(ield) raised, sauerkraut consuming, De La Soul listening, climber climbing extravaganza. A biomedical engineering graduate from the esteemed Newcastle University, Dom brings a sort of engineer vibe to the group that makes chemists shudder (yet secretly appreciate). As a member of the Polestar collaboration, Dom’s work focuses on replacing conventional automotive polymer fillers with carbon negative or low-carbon alternatives, as well as improving the processability of biopolymers. When Dom is not climbing, he spends his time hangboarding (for climbing) or sanding down his skin with 100% Norwegian granite (for pleasure).
Postgraduate Researcher
Saleh grew up in London, completing a master’s in chemistry at University College London. Upon arriving in Manchester, Saleh was shocked to discover that civilisation existed outside of the capital. Saleh’s Hyundai-partnered project explores sustainability in automotive plastics, just to make a change from the rest of the group... Outside of work, Saleh enjoys accidentally drawing phallic shapes at stand-up comedy shows, trawling drinks aisles in search of the finest beverage, badminton, and hanging around at the local Brewdog, quizzing locals on the finer points of what is “ickiness”.
Postgraduate Researcher
Robbie Clark is a Ph.D. student under the joint supervision of Prof. Michael Shaver and Prof. Michael Greaney as part of the University of Manchester’s Integrated Catalysis (iCAT) CDT. He completed his undergraduate degree in Applied Chemistry at Aston University in Birmingham, UK, and was previously employed as a Technician in the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub. His research interests centre around depolymerizing polymer waste, while taking a broad and inclusive framing of sustainability.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Jordan Callum Peter Holland was born and raised in the ham aisle of his local Asda. From his rough beginnings, JCP rose up all the way to the hallowed halls of Keele University where he first developed an interest in frustrated(/ing) lewis pair chemistry and managed to avoid the cultural Marxists at work in this liberal institution. In 2021, he made the treacherous move 40 minutes east to God’s Own Country, Manchester where he has funnelled a misguided love of frustrating chemistry into making functional polymers that definitely capture carbon. Having successfully submitted his thesis and 12 breakdowns later, Jordan is now a postdoctoral research associate working on sustainable alternatives to PFAS whilst he waits for Chester Zoo to contact him about a permanent position in Bush Dog-related services.
Postgraduate Researcher
Orla Studied at the University of Birmingham and graduated with a Masters in Chemistry in 2020. She completed her Masters project under the supervision of Professor Andrew Dove investigating stereochemical control of material properties in novel polyketones. In January 2021, she joined the group and is working on ring-opening polymerisation of degradable polyesters.
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