Dame Lynn Gladden

Dame Lynn Gladden is a British chemical engineer and academic known for pioneering applications of magnetic resonance imaging in chemical engineering and heterogeneous catalysis. She has held senior leadership roles at the University of Cambridge and played a prominent part in science policy and research strategy across UK institutions. Her work bridges experimental techniques, industrial collaborations, and national research infrastructure, influencing organizations such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Royal Society.

Early life and education

Gladden was born in 1961 and educated in the United Kingdom, undertaking undergraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge where she became associated with St Catharine's College, Cambridge and research groups in chemical engineering. Her doctoral research involved fluid flow and transport phenomena, connecting to techniques used in nuclear magnetic resonance and early applications within industrial settings like Imperial Chemical Industries. She trained alongside contemporaries from institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Manchester, and University of Edinburgh, gaining exposure to laboratories linked with agencies like the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Research and scientific contributions

Gladden's research established the use of magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance methods to study multiphase flows, porous media, and catalyst structures relevant to industrial processes in organizations including Shell, BP, and Johnson Matthey. She advanced methodologies for spatially resolved characterization of reactors used in petrochemical and refining operations, interfacing with topics tied to heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption. Her group developed techniques to visualize concentration and flow in packed beds, monolith reactors, and microstructured reactors, informing scale-up strategies employed by multinational firms such as ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies. Collaborations extended to national laboratories like the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and international facilities such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Her publications influenced standards and best practice documents used by professional bodies including the Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Academic and administrative career

Gladden served in academic posts at the University of Cambridge, becoming a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and a fellow at a Cambridge college. She chaired doctoral programs and led research centres that secured funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the European Research Council. She was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Cambridge and contributed to university governance alongside counterparts from Imperial College London and University College London. Her administrative roles involved liaison with funding councils including the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and engagement with initiatives such as the Research Excellence Framework and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Honours, awards, and memberships

Her recognition includes election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire before being named a Dame. She has received awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and prizes awarded by organizations such as the European Federation of Chemical Engineering. She has served on advisory committees for the UK Research and Innovation landscape and on panels for the Wellcome Trust and the European Commission research directorates. Memberships include the Academy of Medical Sciences and participation in international bodies like the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Public engagement and impact

Gladden has held roles interfacing with UK government departments and science policy forums including briefings to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and contributions to national strategies alongside leaders from the National Physical Laboratory and the Technology Strategy Board. She has championed translational research linking universities with industry partners such as Cambridge Enterprise spin-outs, and has spoken at conferences hosted by the Royal Institution, the World Economic Forum, and the House of Commons science committees. Her outreach includes engagements with professional societies including the European Chemical Society and mentorship through schemes run by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Category:British chemical engineers Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire