We were thrilled to catch up with alumna Dr Charlotte Simms (Class of 2012) as she prepares to join our panel of STEM experts at this year’s Norwich Science Festival. A specialist in advanced magnetic resonance, Charlotte’s career has taken her from the laboratories of Norwich High to a senior research role at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Charlotte is a brilliant example of how a foundation in a girls-only environment can dismantle gender stereotypes in STEM, allowing students to pursue complex subjects like Physics and Chemistry with absolute confidence.

Charlotte attended Norwich High School for Girls GDST from the age of seven, a time she remembers for its sense of freedom and fun. “We were able to be ourselves, try everything, and enjoy ourselves without judgement,” she recalls.

Crucially, the school provided a space where being “good at science” was the norm. It wasn’t until she moved to a co-educational Sixth Form that she noticed the gender divide in STEM. “I was the only girl in my A Level Physics class. I thought it was a bit sad that other girls… might have felt pressured to not study physics because it’s ‘a boy subject’.” At Norwich High, Charlotte notes, “The idea that as I was female I shouldn’t or couldn’t do something has never really crossed my mind.”

While Charlotte’s academic path was strong, her time at school was equally defined by a thirst for adventure; the school’s travel opportunities left a lasting mark. She took part in Classics trips to Pompeii and Rome, history trips to Egypt and Jordan and language exchanges in Germany and France. Her musical talents also took her on international tours across Italy and Germany, while Geography trips and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award saw her exploring Norfolk and Yorkshire.

These early experiences provided the foundation for her life outside the lab where she is a keen horse rider, kayaker and long distance trekker, having completed the Skye Trail (Isle of Skye), the Arctic Circle Trail (Greenland), and several treks north of the arctic circle in Norway.

Charlotte’s path to becoming a senior researcher wasn’t a straight line. Originally aspiring to be a farm vet, she faced rejection from vet schools – a moment of disappointment that led her to instead study Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry at the University of Nottingham.

This detour proved inspired. Guided by an early suggestion from her Norwich High chemistry teacher, Dr Heselden, Charlotte flourished in the world of molecular science. Her journey then took her to Belgium, where she completed an MSc and PhD at KU Leuven.

“I investigated how metal complexes could be used to study proteins in the field of drug development, and was lucky to publish my work in several high ranking journals and present at international chemistry conferences across Europe.”

Today, her work is at the cutting edge of sustainability and engineering:

• Specialist Research: Using techniques similar to hospital MRI machines (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) to study molecules at –269 °C at the University of Antwerp.
• Green Innovation: Investigating metal catalysts that can convert CO2 into useful products using solar power.
• Environmental Impact: Starting this April, she will work with shipping and petrochemical giants to make heavy shipping exhaust emissions less harmful.

Charlotte doesn’t just work in a lab; she is a leader for the next generation. As the Young Researcher Spokesperson for ENMIX, she organises workshops across Europe to foster collaboration. She also mentors students through their own PhD and Master’s theses, paying forward the support she received during her own education.

Like many of our successful alumnae, Charlotte’s journey was supported by an assisted place. “I knew that I wouldn’t have been able to attend without having a bursary,” she explains. For Charlotte, these awards are vital because “they give more girls a chance to thrive.”

Charlotte will be appearing alongside fellow alumna Tanya Heare-Rowlands on Saturday 21st February for our free panel event: STEMM Careers – Opportunities in Science. There are still places available to book via the Norwich Science Festival website here.