Dr Rob Reid, Materials Programme Manager, National Physical Laboratory

After completing his PhD entitled 'Genetic engineering of plant architecture in wheat' at Rothamsted Research, Rob undertook a 2 year post-doc in the plant science department at the University of Oxford.

Rob moved on from academia to work as a consultant with a technology futures company, in doing so broadening his understanding of the role of science in a modern economy. Two years later Rob moved to the consumer organisation Which? where he worked as the company's science policy adviser, providing policy advice on a broad range of issues issues such as the use of nanotechnology in consumer products, greenwash, and data protection legislation.

Rob moved back towards scientific research after two years with Which? to take a role as the Programme Manager for the Materials and Modelling Programme at the National Physical Laboratory. Rob is currently on a 4 month secondment to the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.