President: Patrick Wollner

Patrick is a PhD Student at the University of Cambridge Engineering Design Centre. His research focuses on design processes and methodologies for the development of mobile touchscreen devices. Patrick previously worked in the field of computer vision and holds a BA and MEng from the University of Cambridge. He also writes a weekly column for the Austrian daily newspaper Kurier reporting on emerging consumer technologies.Patrick is particularly interested in the intersection of technology and policy on a national and EU level, especially in the field of eHealth and networked mobile computing

Chairman and Founding President: Alberto García-Mogollón

Alberto is a PhD candidate at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. His current research examines the development of innovation policy-making processes in the emerging smart grid sector. This research on the electricity sector also analyses how regional or national policies have affected the introduction of smart grid innovations in the context of a globalising technological space. Alberto is passionate about the interplay of government, industry and academia as catalysers of innovation and technological change for the benefit of society.

Co-Founder and Chairman: Tim Guilliams

Tim is interested in University-Industry Interactions and Technology Transfer. He is fascinated by the role of Universities on economic growth and the development of novel approaches to commercialisation of research from an academic, industry and government perspective. Tim is a Junior Associate Fellow from the Centre for Science and Policy and currently performs a secondment placement at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) where he studies University-Industry Interactions in the Cambridge Cluster. He obtained his PhD in Biophysical Neuroscience from the Chemistry Department at the University of Cambridge, which he conducted in the laboratory of Prof Christopher Dobson, FRS. His PhD research related to the development of antibody fragments as novel biophysical and therapeutic tools for Parkinson’s disease. Prior to his PhD, he obtained a MEng & BEng in Bio-Engineering from the University of Brussels (VUB). Tim has been quite active as a PhD student in Cambridge where he co-founded multiple student societies, which include the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange (CUSPE) and the CONNECTIONS Lecture Series. He was equally involved with the Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC) and Oxbridge Biotech Roundtable (OBR).

Joe Gladstone

Joe Gladstone is a PhD researcher in Behavioural Economics at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. Joe works on large-scale field experiments to test behavioural theories in real-world contexts, particularly in the area of financial decision making. Before Cambridge, he studied Psychology and Neuroscience at Oxford University. Joe is interested in evidence-based approaches to policy development, particularly the use of randomised control trials, and regularly meets with the Behavioural Insights Team in the Cabinet Office. Outside of his PhD research, Joe volunteers as a mentor to encourage disadvantaged pupils to apply to elite universities through ‘The Brilliant Club’ charity. He also has a background in high-level debating tournaments and rows for King’s College, Cambridge.

VP (Events): Harry Armstrong

Harry is a PhD student at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge. His research focuses on the function of the gene repression family Polycomb and understanding the importance of the three dimensional organisation of the genome in different cell types. Harry completed a BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Glasgow before moving to Cambridge.He is interested in the development from evidence to policy and the role of effective communication when engaging both the public and policy makers with complex scientific ideas. He particularly enjoys communicating science to the public and has been involved in projects at the Royal Society, school visits and science festivals.

Head of Annual Conference and IT: David Bosworth

David is a PhD student in the Materials Science Department, Cambridge. His research focuses on the fabrication and testing of nanoscale structures for fuel cells and photonic devices. David completed his MSci in Natural Science at Cambridge before starting his PhD.David has an interest in the relationship between science and policy, specifically the role of science in advising policy decisions. He also takes an active interest in science outreach and has run a series of events promoting science to younger people.

VP (Marketing and Communications) and Deputy President: Fiona Docherty

Fiona is a third year PhD student on the British Heart Foundation funding programme based in the Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on stem cell based therapies for cardiovascular disease. Before starting her PhD in 2009, Fiona obtained an MPhil in Cardiovascular Research from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh.Over her time in Cambridge Fiona has been involved with a number of societies including the student-run science magazine BlueSci. Fiona is interested in the ways in which science communication and the media can be used to influence science policy decisions.

Head of Internal Relations: James Dolan

James graduated with an MEng in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford (specialising in electrical, electronic and control engineering) and is now a first year PhD student at the Nano Science & Technology Doctoral Training Centre in Cambridge. His research, the topic of which has yet to be finalised, will likely cover the design, synthesis, and application of electronic, optoelectronic, or photonic nanomaterials and devices. James has extensive experience of university societies and has previously been the President, Sponsorship Officer, and Secretary of the Oxford University Engineering Society, the Sponsorship Officer of the Oxford University Physics Society, and the Treasurer of the Oxford Energy Society.

Tanya Goldhaber

Tanya Goldhaber is a PhD student in the Engineering Design Centre at the University of Cambridge studying motivational factors in User Interface design for the ageing population. She graduated from MIT with a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Cognitive Science and Music and is excited to get to have the opportunity to combine her passion for psychology and engineering. As part of CUSPE, she is interested in evidence-based policy and the effective communication of scientific and technical knowledge to policy-makers. Outside of the lab, she can be found competing with the Cambridge University Dancesport Team or performing as a violinist with the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra.

Head of Lectures: Helen Ewles

Helen is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge. Her current research focuses upon the viral morphogenesis of Herpes Simplex Virus and Vaccinia Virus. Helen obtained her PhD in 2011 from Imperial College London, and completed her undergraduate studies at University College London.Helen is particularly interested in how important scientific subjects at the interface of science and policy are communicated to the public.

Head of Social Media: Jenny Gibson

Jenny Gibson is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Developmental Psychiatry, and a Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Her current research focuses upon the mental health of adolescents and how scientific knowledge in the field of developmental psychopathology can best be communicated to politicians. Jenny completed her PhD at University of Manchester in 2011. Jenny is particularly interested in the application of developmental neuroscience to social policy and the ethical challenges this can raise.

Treasurer: Arnoud Groen

Arnoud works as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on the application of Mass Spectrometry in the Life Sciences. The impact of this rapidly developing technology will have its effect on fundamental science as well as on future diagnostics in bio-medicine. Arnoud has a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Utrecht. He is greatly interested in the impact that policy has on science and vice versa, especially concerning the translation of scientific developments into clinical practice. Over the years he has covered leading positions in organisations such as the Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC), aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Arnoud’s aspiration is to combine science, industry, policy and entrepreneurship.

Head of Publishing: Matthias Hofer

Matthias is a final year PhD student at the Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge, working on the regulation of a specific adult stem cell population of the brain. Prior to starting his PhD, Matthias studied at the University of Vienna for Bachelor and Masters degrees in biomedicine and biotechnology. In addition to his involvement with CUSPE Matthias has experience in events management and fundraising for a number of science communication projects including the annual Building Bridges in Medical Science (BBMS) conference. Matthias is a strong advocate for the importance of effective communication between academics and policy makers.

Head of Workshops: Edward Oughton

Edward is a PhD researcher at The Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), The University of Cambridge and currently works on Work Stream 3 of the Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC). His research investigates how the evolution of the physical Internet infrastructure has impacted on the economic development of cities. Edward has active research interests and experience in a range of urban, regional, national and international issues, in a variety of fields, from economics to geography to innovation studies. Through his work on evolutionary economics he has developed a special interest in innovation, entrepreneurship and technological development, particularly how the policy nexus intersects these key areas and impacts on economic development. Edward previously spent time at Cambridge completing his MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration during which he completed a policy review for Gateshead Council.

Head of Business Development: Jamie Walters

Jamie is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. Jamie’s research involves the development of a new generation of inexpensive point of care biodiagnostic devices. This European Commission funded research brings together six academic, research and commercial partners from five European countries and aims to produce diagnostic devices for disease detection in food, livestock and humans. Jamie is particularly passionate about innovation in the NHS. He is especially interested in the formation of policy to help convert more scientific breakthroughs in disease detection, monitoring and treatment into commercially viable propositions, to ensure that such technologies become available to the NHS and become of benefit to the patient’s health and disease treatment/management.

VP (Finance and Fundraising): Claire Weiller

Claire is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing. Her research focuses on entry strategies in emerging industries with a particular focus on energy services and the electrification of transport. Her dissertation explores international case studies of business model innovation in electric vehicle ecosystems. Her work is affiliated with the Cambridge Service Alliance and the Electricity Policy Research Group. Claire has been involved with the CONNECTIONS Lecture Series since 2011, where she was responsible for fundraising and finances and enjoyed the fascinating discussions and opportunities given at the nexus of science and policy.