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Royce at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is delighted to announce our new academic champions for thin film and electrochemical devices.

Dr Shelly Conroy has been appointed Academic Champion for Thin Films and Dr Reshma Rao will lead as Academic Champion for Electrochemical Devices. Both academics will bring valuable expertise and leadership to Royce at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, supporting innovation and collaboration in these key research areas.

Dr Shelly Conroy, Academic Champion for Thin Films

Dr Shelly Conroy will take on the new role of Academic Champion for Thin Films at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ.

I'm excited to step into the role of Academic Champion for Thin Films at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, supporting new collaborations and opportunities to advance thin film research Dr Shelly Conroy

Dr Conroy works with ultra-thin layers of materials that have unique electrical and magnetic properties. These materials are used to develop tiny, advanced electronic devices that can interact with their environment, with potential applications in future computing and quantum technologies.

Her research group, funded by the Royal Society and an ERC Consolidator Grant, focuses on designing free-standing 2D thin films, pushing the boundaries of next-generation functional materials.

In her new role, Dr Conroy will lead the thin film community at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and foster collaborations with Royce researchers across the UK and internationally. She will also coordinate initiatives through meetings, schools, and workshops, driving innovation to advance thin film materials and device development.

Dr Conroy comments "I'm excited to step into the role of Academic Champion for Thin Films at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, supporting new collaborations and opportunities to advance thin film research."

Dr Reshma Rao, Academic Champion for Electrochemical Devices

Dr Reshma Rao will take on the new role of Academic Champion for Electrochemical Devices at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ.

Dr Rao is a Lecturer in the Department of Materials, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow, and currently on secondment at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change. She has also been appointed the Royce Research Area Lead for Electrochemical Systems.

³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ hosts a strong and diverse electrochemistry community, with over 400 members in the Electrochemistry Network. This role presents an exciting opportunity to bring this vibrant community together and to ensure that the facilities and expertise at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. Dr Reshma Rao

Her research investigates how chemical reactions happen on solid surfaces that interact with gases or liquids, using advanced tools that let her observe these reactions as they happen. Her goal is to use this knowledge to design better, cheaper, and longer-lasting materials that can help produce clean energy.

Dr Rao comments: "I am delighted to take on the role of Academic Champion for Electrochemical Devices. ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ hosts a strong and diverse electrochemistry community, with over 400 members in the Electrochemistry Network, and an excellent track record in pioneering research across a range of technologies—including fuel cells, electrolysers, batteries, and electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to bring this vibrant community together and to ensure that the facilities and expertise at Royce ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ continue to support both the advancement of current technologies and the development of new ones.

From fundamental atomic-level understanding to scale-up and device testing, I look forward to helping drive innovation across the electrochemical devices landscape."