Dr Eleni Routoula (she/her)

I was appointed University Teaching Associate for Employability in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering in 2021. My main duties involved the overview and delivery of the Skills for Employability module across all years of study and the coordination of MEng and MSc Research Projects. Furthermore, I took on the role of PGR Progression tutor. Later on I took on further teaching commitments, delivering the Product Design part of the second year Process and Product Design module. 

I was promoted to University Teacher in 2024 and since then, additionally to previous responsibilities, I am the Employability Lead of the School of Chemical Materials and Biological Engineering, I lead the School-funded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship scheme offering summer research experience to UG students, I was appointed Head of Delivery for Sheffield Engineering Leadership and Service Award, and I contribute to the Process Design Project (capstone design) module. 

Prior to this I was a Training Coordinator for PhD researchers at CMAC (University of Strathclyde), overviewing their training needs and progress through their degree. My previous professional experience includes a postdoc at King’s College London, and freelance scientific editing and science communication contracts.

I studied chemical engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, in Athens, Greece, and then I moved to the UK to pursue a MSc in Sustainable Engineering, at the University of Strathclyde. From there, I continued to pursue a PhD degree in the department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield, under the supervision of Professor Siddharth Patwardhan. My research focused on remediation of textile effluents, using bioinspired silica 'sponges' with immobilised enzymes, in an effort to remove toxic dyes from water. 

During my PhD I discovered an interest in teaching, researchers’ development, science communication, networking, and employability, through participation in numerous extra-curricular activities ranging from teaching assistance, to chairing committees and an editorial placement in the journal Nature. I decided to pave my way in a sector different than originally intended, by pursuing further experience and employment in areas of interest. My main focus has been the realisation and development of transferable skills and extracurricular experience as a means to shape and pursue unconventional careers.