Meet the team

Kathryn’s interests lie in developing researchers at all career stages. Having supported researchers at Loughborough University since 2007, most recently as Head of Researcher Development, Kathryn has experience in creating innovative approaches to researcher development through the Doctoral College, leading the Research Leaders programme, and establishing the Institute of the Advanced Studies. She is also Head of Skills for the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) which includes a Doctoral Training Partnership. Through C-DICE, Kathryn is driving a step-change in postdoctoral development, providing opportunities for researchers to develop their careers, for research and innovation to achieve net-zero, and for industry. [Read more]

Sharon is the C-DICE project manager. Sharon has been at Loughborough University since 2006 and in that time has managed the Systems Engineering Doctorate Centre and the SUPERGEN SuperSolar Hub and Network +. Sharon has also provided project management for a number of engineering research and enterprise projects, most recently REPOINT, an innovative railway track switch. She also undertook a two and a half year secondment as a research associate on a European/transatlantic project in systems engineering. [Read more]

Lennie Foster is responsible for leading the development of Phase 2 of the ERA Learning Academy, growing the talent pipeline in Energy research, to include doctoral and post-doctoral researchers and beyond. Lennie joined Loughborough University in 2017, first as part of the Research Quality and Visibility Team, and then as a Research Development Manager in the Research Development and Support Team. Lennie gained a PhD in Systems Biology from the University of Warwick working with researchers in the Life Science and Computer Science departments. [Read more]

Karen joined C-DICE as the Training Hub Development Manager in 2022 and is responsible for developing a wide range of training opportunities and pathways for postdoctoral researchers and industrial partners. Karen has 30 years of experience in education and training. Most recently, Karen has led the Secondary Science teacher training programme at Middlesex University, including responsibility for co-ordinating training for teacher educators. Karen is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has extensive experience in leading and managing CPD programmes as part of the STEM Learning agenda. [Read more]

Amy Beierholm is the C-DICE Development Officer, based at the University of Birmingham. Amy comes to C-DICE via PLEXUS (Priming Laboratory EXperiments on infrastructure and Urban Systems, a UKCRIC project linking the UKCRIC facilities) and Liveable Cities (Transforming the Engineering of Cities to Deliver Societal and Planetary Wellbeing), as Project Manager. She has also supported iBUILD (Infrastructure Business models, valuation and Innovation for Local Delivery), Assessing the Underworld and Pipebots (Pervasive Sensing for Buried Pipes). In university, she studied mechanical engineering and aeronautics. [Read more]

Karishma Joshi is the C-DICE Project Administrator. Karishma has worked for Loughborough University as a School Finance Administrator since 2013. [Read more]

Kay Goodman is the C-DICE Training and Development Assistant.  She returned to Cranfield University in October 2021, having previously worked there from 1993-2000 at the School of Management. [Read more]

Sergio is a civil engineer with 15 years of experience in building materials and structural engineering research and practice. His areas of research encompass innovative manufacturing processes for construction (Hybrid 3d printing), structural design, building materials (UHPC, FRC and other advanced cementitious composites), advanced modelling of cementitious materials performance and production processes (FEM, DEM, CFD), and durability (reinforced concrete corrosion and sulphate attack) applied to delivery and maintenance of infrastructure and buildings. [Read more]

Monica Giulietti is Professor of Microeconomics and Head of the Economics Discipline Group at the School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University. She is an associate fellow of the Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge University and of the Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia. She is a research fellow of the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE). Monica has been a member of Department of Energy and Climate Change panel of technical experts for the Electricity Market Reform. Her research focuses on competition and regulation in wholesale and retail energy markets, and models for decentralised energy storage. [Read more]

Martin Freer is Director of the Energy Research Accelerator and Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute at the University of Birmingham. In 2015 he co-led the Birmingham Energy Institute Commission, chaired by Lord Teverson, examining "Doing Cold Smarter", and in 2012 he led the Policy Commission, chaired by Lord Hunt, on the "Future of Nuclear Energy in the UK". He established the Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research in 2010. Martin received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Prize, Humboldt Foundation, Germany in 2004 and the Rutherford Medal (IoP) in 2010. [Read more]