Cheryl Miller is a Professor of Dental Implantology and Biomaterials, she joined the School in 2006 and has made lasting and significant as a result of her research into advanced medical devices and health technologies. Professor Miller has been at the forefront of the discovery of new materials, where her work on advanced bone graft substitutes has resulted in numerous high quality scientific publications, and most recently submitting a patent for an antimicrobial bone graft to treat bone infections. This new biomaterial has the potential to transform surgery in orthopaedics and craniofacial surgery, where deep bone infection is difficult to treat and afflicts millions of lives worldwide each year. She has been involved with a number of successful large research grant awards, frequently as the principal investigator, including UK and European projects.
Cheryl provides wider leadership to the School as programme lead for the MSc in Dental Materials Science, and as Head of the Bioengineering and Health Technologies Research Group. She has been instrumental in raising the profile of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in the School and the wider faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, and she is now the Faculty lead for ECRs. She also provides hugely successful supervision for MSc projects and PhD students. Her students are constantly being recognised for the quality of their work and have won a number of awards at national and international meetings. Outside of the University, she is in demand as an external examiner for undergraduate degrees and PhDs, and she is a council member for the UK Society for Biomaterials where she currently acts as the Secretary. Cheryl is well known throughout the School and the wider Faculty as a hugely supportive and dynamic colleague.
What is the one thing that has helped you the most in your career to date?
Mentors have been invaluable, so grateful for the advice, time, head space and confidence they gave me.
What is the key thing that has hindered or challenged you to date in your career?
Non-team players, but on the plus side, I have become quite resilient as a consequence…..which has helped my career.
What advice would you give to young female academics starting out on their careers now?
Aim high, never give up and be kind to your team/colleagues AND yourself.