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Can you tell us about your career journey since graduating - and what inspired you to take this path?

After graduating, I moved into research and venture-backed technology development, eventually founding Furno Materials, a company decarbonizing cement production. I was driven by a desire to apply scientific thinking to one of the biggest climate and industrial challenges we face. My career path has taken me through combustion research, engineering design, machine learning, and startup building - often at the intersection of deep tech and global impact.

How has your science degree shaped your thinking or opened doors in your career?

My science degree taught me how to structure thinking around uncertainty - how to test hypotheses, analyze systems, and solve problems in ambiguous environments. That mindset has proven invaluable in both research and entrepreneurship. The broad training across disciplines at �����Ʊ gave me a toolkit I still use every day.

Reflecting on your work today, how do you see it making a positive difference?

We’re building small-scale, modular cement plants that reduce carbon emissions while increasing access to critical infrastructure materials. Cement is one of the largest sources of global CO₂, and our goal is to make decarbonized production accessible to every community. It’s a rare opportunity to tackle a global environmental problem while building something commercially scalable.

What advice would you give to current science students who are unsure about where their science degree could take them?

Your degree is a passport, not a prescription - science gives you a framework to explore industries you may not even know exist yet. Don’t stress about finding a linear path. Focus on cultivating curiosity, clarity of thought, and the courage to try unconventional things.

Looking back, what skills or insights have been most valuable in your career and is there anything you wish you’d known when starting out?

Systems thinking has been the most important skill: seeing how seemingly separate pieces connect across technology, people, and markets. I wish I’d known earlier that “nonlinear” careers are often the most rewarding - and that ambiguity is where the best opportunities live.

Have there been any pivotal moments or unexpected turns in your career and how did you navigate them?

Starting a hardware and climate tech company in the cement industry was never on the original roadmap - but it became clear that the biggest problems needed new kinds of entrepreneurs. I leaned into discomfort, asked hundreds of questions, and surrounded myself with experts who challenged my assumptions. That mindset shift changed everything.

How do you stay curious and keep learning in your professional life?

I treat learning as an ongoing practice - not just something for work, but part of how I live. I read broadly across disciplines, but I also explore new things in my personal life, whether that’s a new movement practice, a way of thinking about food and health, or a fitness challenge. These experiences keep me grounded, creative, and open to different ways of seeing the world.

What change or innovation in your field are you most excited about for the future and what role do you hope to play in it?

The cement industry is on the cusp of a transformation - from centralized, carbon-heavy mega-plants to flexible, modular, low-emission systems. I’m excited to help drive that shift and prove that breakthrough innovation in heavy industry is both possible and profitable.