Ashley specialised in Physical and Organic chemistry during the final year of his MSci Chemistry degree and undertook a research project in the field of Soft Matter that involved the evaluation of surfactants with reduced environmental impact, with potential applications as detergents.

What transferable skills did you develop during your degree?

The transferable skills that I developed from my studies which were particularly relevant to my chosen career include: researching topics at a macro and micro scale of detail, being able to concisely summarise large amounts of information, timekeeping and managing deadlines (a hugely important aspect of my work), applying scientific knowledge to tangible inventions and being able to discuss complex concepts in layman's terms. My research project involved collaborating with a small company based in Bristol and that gave me a great idea of what it's like to work with a client.

Ashley is now a Technical Assistant in the Chemistry & Life Sciences practice group at Gill Jennings & Every LLP and is working towards full qualification as a UK and European Patent Attorney.