Charlotte Nicolaou
Biography
Charlotte grew up in Brighton and chose to undertake a masters degree in physics at the University of Sheffield. It was during these four years that she decided to stay in Sheffield and pursue a PhD.
Her topic of research, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and Procter & Gamble, is looking at the binding efficiency of genetically modified lipase enzymes under different conditions. This will be done using an AFM and force recognition microscopy with tips that have been functionalised with the modified enzymes. By lowering the enzymes towards a lipid substrate it will be possible to measure the properties of the enzyme.
Outside of university Charlotte helps out with the running of the University of Sheffield Physics Society. As well as that she's heavily involved in an outreach project to launch a high altitude weather balloon to image the curvature of space which will be taken in to schools across the city to enthuse children about science and engineering.
