In our first spotlight on the 2024–25 Early Career Enterprise Fellows, we meet Carolina Gaudenzi, a PhD researcher in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine whose journey from fundamental neuroscience to biotech entrepreneurship is as inspiring as it is impactful. With a background in molecular neuroscience and a passion for bridging science and society, Carolina is using her Fellowship to explore how brain organoid technology can transform research – making it faster, more accessible, and potentially commercial.

From San Marino to Bristol: A journey of curiosity, courage, and conviction

Carolina’s academic path has been anything but conventional. Born and raised in the tiny republic of San Marino, she set her sights on studying in the United States from the age of 15. After earning a double major in biology and anthropology at Ithaca College in New York, she discovered a fascination with neuroscience – particularly the way it could help her understand her own mind and the human condition more broadly.

That curiosity led her to Bristol, where she pursued a master’s in molecular neuroscience during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a PhD exploring how neural stem cells commit to becoming neurons. But as her research progressed, so did her desire to make a more immediate impact.

“I started out loving the idea of knowledge for knowledge’s sake,” she reflects. “But over time, I realised I wanted to do something that could help people now – not just in some distant future.”

A company born from exhaustion and imagination

The idea for Carolina’s enterprise didn’t come from a business plan. It came from a moment of fatigue and frustration in the lab.

“My postdoc and I were caring for brain organoids late into the evening, and we joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone else could do this for us?’” she recalls. “We said it so many times that eventually it stopped being a joke.”

That offhand comment evolved into a bold vision: a company that offers bespoke brain organoid manufacturing services to researchers. The aim is to remove the technical and financial barriers that prevent many labs from using this powerful tool.

“Brain organoids are still a relatively new technology,” Carolina explains. “They require specialised training, equipment, and time. By offering a service that creates them to order, we can make this technology more accessible and accelerate research in areas like neurodegeneration, mental health, and personalised medicine.”

From pipettes to pitches: confidence, community, and a shift in mindset

Carolina’s journey through the Early Career Enterprise Fellowship has been nothing short of transformative. “It’s been thrilling,” she says. “Every time we had a workshop, I left feeling so inspired – so ready to conquer the world.”

One of the most surprising and valuable aspects of the Fellowship was the community of Fellows. “I thought I’d walk into a room full of business-minded experts,” she admits. “But instead, I found people just like me – scientists with big ideas and no business background. We were all figuring it out together and that made me feel like I belonged.”

The workshops themselves were a revelation. “They were so well organised and thoughtfully delivered. The concepts were new but never condescending. It was easy to understand, and everyone was so smiley, so genuinely excited to help us bring our ideas to life. That was such a breath of fresh air.”

But the transition from science to enterprise required a major shift in mindset. “In science, you need data before you make a claim. In business, you have to convince people before you have the data. At first, that felt inherently wrong,” she explains. “But having to pitch and persuade gave me confidence. I said it so many times ‘this will work’ that I started to believe it myself. It became a kind of self-serving manifestation circle.”

This confidence culminated in the Festival of Enterprise, where Carolina delivered a PechaKucha-style pitch. “Normally I’m a confident speaker, but this was nerve-wracking. Still, it was thrilling. Preparing that presentation helped me realise: this is real. This is happening.”

The feedback she received was invaluable – not just in refining her idea, but in building connections. “People came up to me afterwards saying, ‘I wish this existed now,’ or asking for help with their own organoid projects. It was moving and humbling to see people look at my idea and think it was good.”

The PechaKucha format itself left a lasting impression. “It radically changed the way I think about presenting. It added back the entertainment factor that’s so often missing in academic talks. I’ll definitely use elements of it in future presentations.”

Perhaps most importantly, Carolina found empowerment in a space where her voice was heard. “In academia, I often felt dismissed – not just because of my gender, but because of my position as a PhD student. You’re at the bottom of the pecking order. But in this enterprise space, it didn’t matter. People listened. They treated me like an expert. That was life-changing and I realised I could be a CEO.”

That sense of empowerment, of being heard, respected, and taken seriously was one of the most profound outcomes of the Fellowship. “It was such a reversal. And it felt amazing.”

Reimagining research and reclaiming purpose

For Carolina, the Fellowship didn’t just open a new career path it reignited her passion for science. Before joining the ECEF, she had begun to feel disconnected from the impact of her research. “I used to think my work was just a tiny drop in the ocean,” she says. “Maybe useful someday but far removed from anything tangible.”

The Fellowship shifted that perspective dramatically. “I realised my research could have a huge impact now, not just in the distant future. That was a complete change in how I think about science.”

This shift wasn’t just intellectual, it was emotional. “When you’re working on something that feels like an academic exercise, it’s easy to lose motivation. But when you see your idea take shape, when people respond to it, when it starts to feel real, that’s when the love for research comes back.”

Carolina also began to reflect more deeply on the kind of scientist she wants to be. “I’ve learned that I don’t want to be the kind of researcher who waits decades for impact. I want to work on science that helps people now. That’s where I find joy and purpose.”

The Fellowship gave her the space to ask big questions not just about her project, but about her identity as a researcher. “It helped me see that science isn’t just about accumulating knowledge. It’s about solving problems, creating tools, and making life better. That’s the kind of science I want to do.”

Looking ahead: from PhD to CEO

As the Fellowship ends, Carolina is clear about her next steps. First, finish her PhD. Then, build her company.

“I used to think this was just a side project, an escape from academia. But now I know it’s my future,” she says. “The Fellowship gave me the tools and the confidence to say: I can do this.”

She’s also passionate about showing others that they can do it too. “You don’t need to be special. You just need an idea and the willingness to try. The worst that can happen is it doesn’t work and you still have your PhD.”

Advice for future Fellows: just go for it

Carolina is unequivocal in her recommendation for the ECEF.

“Whether you want to start a company or not, this Fellowship is invaluable. It gives you a new perspective on your research, your skills, and your potential,” she says. “It shows you that science doesn’t have to stay in the lab. It can live in the world.”

And her final message?

“Doctor. CEO. Why not both?”

In our latest spotlight on the 2024–25 University Enterprise Fellows, we meet Professor Iain Gilchrist, a neuropsychologist whose fascination with the human mind has led to groundbreaking research at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and the creative industries. Iain’s journey is a powerful example of how the UEF can help transform deep academic insight into a scalable, impactful venture—one that’s already reshaping how we understand audience engagement.

From Distraction to Immersion: A Scientific Curiosity

For over 25 years, Iain has explored the marvels of the human brain—how we see, remember, and respond to the world around us. His research has long focused on how we sense and interpret our environment, but in recent years, working with Professor Danae Stanton Fraser, from the University of Bath, he’s zeroed in on a particularly compelling question: what happens in the brain when we become fully immersed in something?

“Humans are naturally distractable,” Iain explains. “And that’s not a flaw—it’s a feature.” From an evolutionary perspective, being easily distracted helped our ancestors stay alert to danger and adapt to changing environments. “It’s what stops us getting eaten by lions,” he jokes. But what fascinates Iain is that, despite this default state, we’ve created cultural artefacts—film, theatre, music—that can completely absorb us. “That shift in mental state is remarkable,” he says. “It’s the opposite of vigilance, and yet we enter it willingly, even joyfully.”

This curiosity led to a research programme funded by the UKRI MyWorld Grant (www.myworld-creates.com), investigating the neural, behavioural and physiological signatures of immersion. Using wearable tech and remote sensing tools, Iain and his team can now measure, moment-by-moment, how engaged an audience is with a piece of content—whether it’s a Netflix pilot, a live concert, or a theatre performance.

From Research to Real-World Impact

At the heart of Iain Gilchrist’s enterprise journey is a deceptively simple question: how do we know when an audience is truly immersed in a piece of content?

This question, rooted in decades of neuropsychological research, has led to the development of a novel methodology for measuring audience engagement moment-by-moment. Iain and his team have pioneered a suite of tools that combine wearable technology—such as EEG headsets, heart rate monitors, and accelerometers—with remote sensing techniques like thermal imaging and webcam-based motion tracking. These tools allow them to capture moment-by-moment physiological and behavioural responses to content, from films and TV shows to live theatre and music performances.

The result is a powerful new way to understand how audiences experience creative content—not just whether they liked it, but exactly when they were captivated, distracted, or emotionally moved.

This innovation has immediate relevance for the creative industries. Content creators often rely on instinct and post-release feedback to gauge the success of their work. But Iain’s methods offer something far more precise: data-driven insights that can inform editing decisions, shape narrative structure, and ultimately enhance the emotional impact of a piece before it ever reaches the public.

For example, a production team might test a pilot episode with a sample audience and receive a detailed report showing exactly when viewers were most engaged—or when their attention drifted. This feedback can then be used to refine the content, making it more compelling and resonant. As Iain puts it, “We’re helping creatives understand their audience in a way that’s never been possible before.”

The potential applications are vast. From streaming platforms and film studios to live performance venues and museums, any organisation that creates or curates’ content can benefit from these insights. And because the methods are non-invasive and scalable, they can be applied in cinemas, concert halls, or even people’s homes.

What began as a fundamental research question—what happens in the brain when we’re immersed? —has evolved into a service with real commercial value

The UEF: Creating Space to Build

The University Enterprise Fellowship arrived at just the right moment. It gave Iain the space to step back from day-to-day research and explore what a commercial offering might look like. “The Fellowship gave me time to learn,” he reflects. “To understand what it takes to build a business, and to listen—really listen—to what potential clients need.”

That listening has been central to the journey. Iain and his team have spent the past year engaging with stakeholders across the creative industries, refining their offer, and exploring different business models. What’s emerging is a hybrid approach: consultancy services to start, with a longer-term vision of a scalable software-as-a-service platform—potentially under the name Audience Insights.

Building a Team, Building a Future

Iain is quick to emphasise that this has never been a solo effort. “I’ve always worked in teams,” he says. “And this one is exceptional.” From fellow academic collaborators to enterprise leads, business advisors, and early-career researchers, the project has brought together a diverse group with shared purpose.

That diversity has been key—not just in skills, but in perspective. “Having people who challenge you, who see things differently, that’s where the real growth happens.”

The team’s work has also been shaped by their participation in the ICURe programme, which Iain describes as “an amazing experience.” From initial workshops to full business model development, ICURe has helped crystallise the vision and prepare the team for a potential spin-out.

A New Way of Working

For Iain, the shift from academic research to enterprise has been both challenging and rewarding. “It’s a different way of thinking,” he says. “You’re not just answering questions—you’re building something that lasts.”

That mindset shift has also opened new doors for early-career researchers on the team, some of whom are now considering enterprise pathways themselves. “It’s not for everyone,” Iain acknowledges. “But for those who are curious, it’s an incredibly exciting journey.”

Advice for Future Fellows

Iain’s advice to others considering the UEF? “Listen. Be open. And don’t try to do it all yourself. The Fellowship gives you the time and the network to build something properly—and that makes all the difference.”

From brainwaves to box office, Iain’s work shows how enterprise can emerge from curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to step into the unknown. Thanks to the UEF, that vision is becoming a reality—one audience at a time.

In our latest spotlight on the 2024–25 University Enterprise Fellows, we meet Dr Lucy Cramp, Associate Professor in Archaeology, whose work bridges the ancient world and cutting-edge analytical science. Lucy’s journey is a compelling example of how enterprise can emerge from deep disciplinary expertise—and how the UEF can provide the space and support to turn a thriving research niche into a sustainable, impactful technical service.

From Ancient Pots to Molecular Clues

Dr Lucy Cramp’s academic journey is a masterclass in interdisciplinary creativity. She started her academic journey studying archaeology and anthropology at Oxford, a selection she made informed by her strong interest in human behaviour, cultural practices, and identity— as such she describes herself as firmly rooted in the arts and humanities having dropped science subjects after GCSE stage. A glimpse into the applications and techniques of archaeological science late in her degree revealed that analytical chemistry could offer powerful tools to explore those very questions she was most interested in, and drew her back towards those sciences she thought she had left behind.

That spark led her to a master’s in archaeological science and then a PhD that used organic residue analysis to investigate how Roman pottery was used in Britain. This technique, which extracts molecular traces from ancient ceramics, allowed her to reconstruct what those vessels once held—offering direct insight into past diets, cultural exchanges, and even identity formation.

Her move to Bristol—initially to work in the School of Chemistry—placed her at the heart of a globally recognised hub for biomolecular archaeology. Over the past two decades, she has helped build a bridge between disciplines, establishing in-house archaeological chemistry facilities and fostering collaborations that span the arts and sciences. Today, Lucy is a leading figure in archaeological chemistry, working at the intersection of molecular science and cultural heritage.

Unlocking the Scientific Potential of the Past

Organic residue analysis opens a unique window into the past. By identifying the lipids and other organic compounds preserved in ancient pottery, researchers can determine what people were cooking, storing, or consuming—sometimes thousands of years ago. This method doesn’t just confirm assumptions; it challenges and refines them. It can reveal long-term dietary shifts, regional culinary traditions, and even religious practices, such as the absence of pork amongst medieval Jewish communities settled within English towns.

Despite its transformative potential, this technique has remained largely confined to academic institutions. The barriers— expensive, specialist equipment, technical expertise, and time-intensive analysis—have made it inaccessible to much of the heritage sector, including commercial archaeology units and museums. While Lucy’s colleagues had developed ad hoc analyses into a more routine external service over time, growing demand made it clear that a more structured, sustainable approach was needed.

That demand was already there: developer-funded archaeological units, museums, and international researchers were eager to access this powerful method. But the infrastructure to support it—staffing, pricing, business planning— needed an overhaul. “We had the technology, the demand, and the expertise,” Lucy explains. “But we needed the time and space to build something that could last.”

The University Enterprise Fellowship arrived at exactly the right moment. It gave Lucy the headspace to step back from day-to-day pressures and reimagine the service from the ground up. With support from colleagues in Chemistry and professional services,  a robust business model, a sustainable staffing structure, and a clear pricing strategy was developed. The goal: to create a service that is not only scientifically rigorous but also accessible, scalable, and built to last.

From Service to Strategy: Building for the Long Term

For a time, a research associate in the School of Chemistry had offered the analysis as a service to external partners. But when that colleague moved on, Lucy and her collaborators faced a decision: let the service fade or reimagine it for the long term. They chose the latter.

Working with colleagues in Chemistry and supported by professional services staff, Lucy and co-lead Mélanie Roffet-Salque have led the transformation of the service into a robust, team-based operation. They’ve analysed past projects, mapped client needs, and developed a pricing model that balances accessibility with sustainability. “It’s been incredibly satisfying,” she says. “We’ve built something we’re really proud of.”

Alongside the business model, Lucy is also exploring ways to streamline the science. One major bottleneck is the manual interpretation of complex chemical data. “It’s time-consuming and labour-intensive,” she explains. “We’re exploring the use of semi-automated data processing tools to speed that up—without compromising quality.”

This innovation could make the service even more scalable and efficient, and it’s a key focus for the remainder of her Fellowship year.

Building a Centre, Building a Culture

Lucy also led a team that secured AHRC capital funding to establish a new centre that will provide access to archaeological chemistry for the wider heritage sector. The goal is to create a seamless, flexible service that can be accessed through commercial contracts, research collaborations, or public funding routes.

And it’s not just about the science. Lucy is passionate about the role of early-career researchers and professional services staff in the enterprise journey. “It’s been a real team effort,” she says. “And for many of the people involved, it’s their first experience of working at the interface of research and commercialisation. It’s opening up new perspectives and new skills.”

A Sustainable Future

Unlike many academic projects, this one isn’t designed to end after three years. “That’s been a big shift in mindset,” Lucy reflects. “We’re building something for the long term, not a fixed term project with a clearly defined end date, like most research projects. That means thinking ahead—about staffing, about market changes, about how we adapt. It’s a different way of working, but it’s really rewarding.”

Looking ahead, Lucy sees potential to expand the service, add new analytical techniques, and deepen its integration with both research and heritage practice. But for now, she’s focused on consolidating the foundations.

Advice for Future Fellows

Lucy’s advice to others considering the UEF? “Get the right people around you early. Don’t try to do it all yourself. The Fellowship gives you the time and the network to build something properly—and that makes all the difference.”

From ancient artefacts to cutting-edge analysis, Lucy’s work shows how enterprise can emerge from curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to build something new. Thanks to the UEF, that vision is becoming a reality—one pot at a time.

There’s still time to register for next week’s Festival of Enterprise via Develop, where you’ll get to hear from Lucy and our other Enterprise Fellows, alongside many more exciting talks and presentations!

In the next in our series of conversations with our University Enterprise Fellows, we spoke with Professor Nicholas Howden of the School of Civil Aerospace and Design Engineering at the University of Bristol.

A Diverse Background Across Academia and Industry

Nicholas’ academic background straddles multiple disciplines, starting with a general engineering degree, where he specialized in civil engineering. He recalls he was particularly inspired by professors who had practical experience in industry, which he found enriched their teaching and made it more accessible and exciting. This blend of theory and practice became a cornerstone of Nicholas’s approach to research and problem-solving.

Nicholas’ undergraduate degree was followed by a PhD in hydrology, hydrogeology, and hydrogeochemistry and, after completing his PhD, he worked as a hydrologist for contaminated land consultants and the former technical arm of the Coal Board as a hydrogeologist. His work involved addressing legacy issues associated with coal mining and how these impact water quality. This time in industry provided him with in depth understanding of the complexity of the water system and the many factors which can impact water quality, combined with hands-on practical experience of tackling environmental problems.

After this period in practice, Nicholas returned to academia, first at Cranfield University in the National Soil Resources Institute, where he expanded his understanding of soil and land use, and later at the University of Bristol. While his disciplinary home at Bristol remains in engineering, his expertise would make him equally at home in Earth sciences, physical geography, or environmental sciences. Nicholas’ diverse background across academic research and industry equipped him with a very pragmatic, yet embracing of complexity, perspective on environmental challenges.

The University Enterprise Fellowship: A New Frontier

Nicholas’s work as one of our 2024/25 University Enterprise Fellows focuses on the impact of agriculture on water quality. Techniques used in agriculture over the past 100 years or more have significantly affected the chemistry of water in river catchments, sometimes with long lags and complex interrelations. For example, he describes how during WWII, the UK abruptly increased arable land use, leading to a massive release of nitrogen and carbon into groundwater and rivers. The effects of this were seen decades later, highlighting the long-term impact of agricultural practices. Agricultural chemicals, including fertilizers and pesticides, move into and through every component of the hydrologic system—air, soil, soil water, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. Increased levels of nutrients from fertilizers can stimulate algal blooms, affect stream health, and increase treatment costs for drinking water. This has implications for drinking water, ecological value, and estuarine environments. Nicholas’s research aims to understand how agricultural practices propagate through the system, often with long delays, and in his enterprise fellowship he seeks to create a credible and actionable plan as to how his and others’ research can be applied in practice to protect water supplies now and in the future.

As a University Enterprise Fellow, Nicholas continues this theme of addressing complex environmental issues with a blend of fundamental science and engineering coupled with an industry-informed grasp of the many pragmatic considerations of understanding and influencing water quality. He is using the fellowship to “deep dive” into the wider context of what influences water quality, and in doing so is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the water industry with the ultimate aim to provide robust evidence to help industry and regulators make informed decisions to ensure water security. He describes the University Enterprise Fellowship as transformative, in that it has given him protected time and “permission” to step away from some of his regular teaching and research activities and invest substantial time to really listen to industry stakeholders, and understand their context, and the most pressing problems to solve. He stresses the differentiation between this fellowship and research; the UEF is much more about building relationships and understanding the viable paths by which ideas and solutions might be implemented in practice.

Collaboration and Policy Implications

Managing these issues requires understanding historical practices and predicting future impacts. The challenge is to provide evidence for practical solutions, whether it’s building treatment works or modifying agricultural practices. Nicholas’s work is crucial in helping industry and regulators navigate these complex challenges.

Nicholas’ current principal external collaborator is a water company, but his work has broader implications for policy and industry practices. Policy is usually based on evidence, and the complexity of these issues requires long-term planning beyond typical five-year cycles. The data science environment has changed, with an expectation for real-time monitoring and decision-making. However, real-time monitoring for water quality is complex and requires validation.

Listening, Learning, and Building Networks

One of the key differences between Nicholas’s enterprise fellowship and his regular academic role is the emphasis on listening and learning. Nicholas humorously notes that being an enterprise fellow gives him time off from the day job of a professor, which is to “profess.” Instead of speaking, he has the time to prioritise listening and figuring out which questions he needs to ask to really understand the water industry’s challenges. The fellowship has given him the time to understand the concerns of industry stakeholders, hear how they think about problems, and explore practical solutions. This understanding is crucial for providing effective solutions and building relationships.

Nicholas’s journey through the fellowship has involved building networks, strengthening existing contacts and making new ones. One thing he attributes his extensive network to is being a trustee of CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management), which provided him with excellent contacts that he would not otherwise have encountered in his regular academic role. He highlighted the importance, particularly for early career academics, of taking roles that could be seen as peripheral to one’s main academic career but can bring unanticipated benefits like contacts and insights. Nicholas recommends that more junior academics take such opportunities, although in a measured and intentional way, carefully picking and choosing the opportunities that really interest them.

Looking Ahead

By the end of his fellowship, Nicholas hopes to have an agreement with a company about the next 18 months to three years of work, including a draft business plan. He also aims to identify initial projects where his work can add value and involve other university colleagues in the future.

Final reflections

Nicholas Howden’s use of the University Enterprise Fellowship is not an entrepreneurial, spin-out journey, as some are – rather his is a showcase of listening and learning, and collaboration with industry stakeholders. His work addresses complex environmental issues with a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, providing robust evidence and practical solutions to help industry and regulators make informed decisions. With a focus on historical perspectives, policy implications, and building networks, Nicholas’s work is paving the way for a more sustainable future.

We’ll have one more UEF interview ahead of this year’s Festival of Enterprise. If you’ve enjoyed learning more about this year’s cohort and their activities, sign up to attend via Develop and hear more from our UEFs and our Early Career Enterprise Fellows!

May 2025 

In our latest interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Rebecca Shepherd, Senior Lecturer in the School of Anatomy at the University of Bristol and one of the University Enterprise Fellows for 2024/25. Rebecca shared her fascinating journey where a short discussion with one of her anatomy idols lead her to become a leading expert in ivory identification, and has seen her work with archaeologists and anthropologists, heritage organisations, auction houses, collectors and more. 

From biomedical science to mammoths 

Rebecca’s path to her current role is inspiring, and a little unconventional! She began her career in biomedical science and, after her first degree, worked for a time as a healthcare scientist in the NHS. After having her first child, she decided to pursue a PhD – never one to flinch at a challenge – and this led her to the field of anatomy. “I got involved with anatomy teaching during my PhD and absolutely loved it,” she recalls with a smile. This passion for anatomy teaching and research saw her land her first academic role at the University of Lancaster and ultimately brought her to the University of Bristol in 2022. 

Rebecca’s research focuses on using Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between elephant and mammoth ivory. This technique, which involves firing lasers at samples to analyse their molecular composition, has proven to be exceptionally useful for the differential identification of ivory in a wide range of artefacts, and is small and portable so suitable for analysis in the field such as at archaeological digs or “backstage” in museums. “It’s like being a detective for the day,” she says enthusiastically.  

Unlike other methods such as DNA analysis or radiocarbon dating, which destroy a portion of the sample and often require extensive preparation prior to testing, Raman spectroscopy is non-destructive and requires no sample preparation. This makes it particularly valuable for analysing precious artefacts without causing damage. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy can perform spatially offset analysis, allowing examination below the surface layer. This means that even if there is paint, pigments, minerals, or dirt on the surface, the technique can focus below the surface layer to examine the composition of the material underneath, negating the need to clean the sample. 

Rebecca’s journey into ivory identification began with a serendipitous conversation during her PhD. “There aren’t many celebrity anatomists, so when I heard Professor Alice Roberts was coming to Lancaster, I invited her to come and visit the Anatomy Department. To my surprise and delight, she accepted! We showed her round and then went out for lunch.  She reflected on the difficulty of ascertaining what objects found on archaeological digs were made from – especially telling the difference between elephant and mammoth ivory in carved artefacts. I was so fixated on impressing Alice Roberts I just said “sure, I can do that”. I hadn’t considered how I would actually achieve it!” she admits with a laugh. With support from her networks she got access to some specimens to start building up a library of Raman spectra, and sure enough, her confidence paid off: She could differentiate between ivory from different species. Her research gathered pace, and initially focused on archaeological applications thanks to that first conversation, but her work soon attracted the attention of the WWF, leading to collaborations aimed at wildlife conservation. While it is illegal to trade elephant ivory, there are no restrictions on the sale of mammoth ivory. The similarities between the two pose a problem for law enforcement. 

Ivory Identification in Demand: From Research to Enterprise 

Rebecca could quite easily have pursued a purely research approach to her analysis, but once her work was published and became known about in the niche field of ivory identification, her expertise quickly became highly sought after, with requests coming from law enforcement, auction houses, museums, and private individuals. “There’s a real shortage of people who can accurately identify ivory,” Rebecca explains. As explained above, most techniques are destructive – no good if you are working with rare or precious objects. Other people do it by visual inspection, but this is far from fool-proof. It’s fairly reliable if you’re working with a whole tusk or large section of a tusk, but is extremely difficult to be confident of if the ivory has been worked into an object such as jewellery, part of a musical instrument, or other small, intricate object.  

The demand led her to realise the potential for a niche consultancy service, which led her to apply for a University Enterprise Fellowship, so that she could properly explore the best way to take this forward and gain some higher qualifications to support her business case for ivory analysis as a service. 

The Fellowship’s Impact 

The University Enterprise Fellowship has been instrumental in Rebecca’s entrepreneurial journey. “It’s given me the time and resources to think about this properly, to explore and navigate the mechanisms available to me to commercialise this service, to consider my options and ascertain which way works best for me” she says. The fellowship has also provided her with valuable skills and qualifications, such as advanced laser safety. “Having that extra layer of professionalism has been really helpful when discussing with clients,” she notes. 

Rebecca acknowledges that the Fellowship has progressed differently than she initially imagined. “I had hoped to be fully self-sustaining by now, but it’s been a bit slower than I had planned,” she admits. However, she views this as a natural part of the journey and encourages others to persist and not become frustrated if things take longer to come to fruition than they had hoped. “It’s about building connections and momentum, and that’s happening,” she adds with optimism. 

Being a University Enterprise Fellow has also connected Rebecca with a community of like-minded individuals. “Being part of a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for tackling real challenges at scale across a wide range of disciplines has been invaluable,” she says warmly. This supportive network has provided her with a sense of belonging and mutual support, which she describes as crucial in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape and connecting with similarly entrepreneurial academics and researchers. 

A Multidisciplinary Approach 

Rebecca’s project exemplifies the power of multidisciplinary research, combining biology, chemistry, physics, and data science to tackle complex problems. By using Raman spectroscopy, she leverages principles from physics and chemistry to analyse ivory samples. Her work also draws on biological and ecological knowledge to identify different ivory species. Additionally, Rebecca collaborates with data scientists to develop machine learning algorithms for analysing Raman spectra, integrating advanced computational techniques. These algorithms help automate the process of identifying ivory types by recognising patterns in the spectral data, making the analysis faster and more accurate. Rebecca initially sought help from a data scientist to create a user-friendly interface for some principal component analysis to separate out Raman spectra from different species. However, during their discussions, the data scientist suggested a more advanced approach using machine learning. As tusks contain a mineral component, they trained machine learning to differentiate between geological minerals in a large, open-source Raman dataset, and then fine-tuned on their smaller ivory dataset. This significantly improved the accuracy of ivory identification. “I just wanted a simple interface, but talking to the data scientist opened up new possibilities. They said, ‘No, we can do something so much more,’ and that’s how the AI aspect of the project came about.” 

“It’s an incredibly interdisciplinary undertaking,” Rebecca says. “We’ve got the hard physics of Raman, the material science, the AI elements, the biology of the tissue, the archaeology, and the social history.” She explains that the integration of AI allows for the handling of large datasets, improving the precision of ivory identification and enabling the detection of subtle differences that might be missed by the human eye. This approach not only enhances the accuracy and efficiency of her research but also opens up new avenues for applications in wildlife conservation, archaeology, and law enforcement. Rebecca recalls having to request information from Bristol University on how to bring a gun into the Anatomy Department for analysis because it was suspected to have mammoth ivory inlays. “The safety officer said it was the first time they’ve been asked that question, but it highlighted the diverse applications of our work,” she says with a chuckle.  

Looking Ahead 

As Rebecca continues to build her consultancy, she hopes to make it self-sustaining and use the profits to fund further research. “I want to have the flexibility to follow the interesting ideas that come up,” she says. She also sees the potential for her work to inspire others in her department. “It’s great to see colleagues now thinking about how they explore the enterprise aspects of their research – lots of people have approached me to ask for my thoughts on their ideas,” she adds. 

Rebecca’s innovative use of Raman spectroscopy and her dedication to both research and enterprise are making a significant impact in the field of ivory identification and beyond. Her story also serves as an example of the benefits of following interesting leads and questions, without necessarily knowing where they’ll take you – and having confidence you can do something before you know whether you actually can! 

In the next in our series of interviews with this year’s University Enterprise Fellows we meet Dr Richard Helyer, Senior Lecturer in Physiology. Rich’s journey is anything but conventional, and it’s this eclectic path that has shaped his innovative and entrepreneurial approach to teaching.

A Career Built on Curiosity (and a Bit of Chaos)

Rich’s career path is anything but linear—and that’s what makes his story so compelling. “I get easily distracted and easily bored,” he says with a grin, “so every time I’ve changed a role, I’ve done something completely different.”

Rich began with a degree in microbiology at the University of Bristol, with ambitions of becoming a plant pathologist. But when a PhD opportunity in this area fell through, he pivoted to marine microbial biology and took up a studentship at Strathclyde. That, too, didn’t go to plan. “My supervisor was often travelling, and on my first day, a friendly postdoc told me that the equipment I was supposed to use hadn’t worked in years,” he recalls. “It was a disaster.”

Undeterred, Rich returned to Bristol to pursue a PhD in pyrolysis mass spectrometry—a bit of a pivot, admittedly, but still relevant to microbiology, as the technique can be used to identify bacteria. It was a highly technical and quite niche field, and after completing his doctorate, he found himself at another crossroads. “I was a bit bored and didn’t know what to do,” he says. Around this time his father, who ran a construction contracting firm, was in need of support, so Rich offered to help out in the family business, just for the short term. That temporary stint turned into a career pivot that lasted seven years!

Eventually, when his father retired Rich had to decide between stepping into that company leadership role, or another path. He considered running the family business but ultimately thought “no, this is too much like hard work for me,” and decided to return to science. He landed a role in physiology—despite having no formal background in the subject—because the recruiting manager had had such difficulty finding someone to fill the role. “I thought, I don’t know much about physiology, but as long as I can stay one page ahead of the students, I’ll be fine,” he laughs.

From there, he taught himself physiology, gradually specialising in several different areas including a fellowship in inner ear electrophysiology, and stayed in Bristol even after the research group he was part of disbanded. A temporary lectureship turned into a permanent role, and over time, Rich became a general physiologist with a passion for teaching. “I love teaching first- and second-year physiology to anyone who needs it—scientists, medics, vets, dentists,” he says. “Even if it’s not always their favourite subject!”

His story is a testament to the power of adaptability, curiosity, and saying “yes” to opportunities—even when you’re not quite sure where they’ll lead. “Academia, if you get it right, lets you follow what you enjoy,” he reflects. “And I still enjoy it.”

Simulation with Substance: Teaching the ‘Why’, Not Just the ‘What’

As an education-focussed academic – Pathway 3 in Bristol terminology – Rich’s role involves a lot of teaching and assessment. In particular he teaches physiology using simulation – but not in the way that simulation is commonly used.

“Simulation in medical education is often used to rehearse clinical procedures—how to stop bleeding, restart a heart, or manage a crisis”, Rich explains, but he has spent the last 15 years pushing simulation in a different direction: one that doesn’t just assess the “what would you do in this situation” question, but allows the students to really probe the science behind the symptoms, and to dive deeper into the underlying mechanisms of health and disease to enrich their understanding and professional development.

At the core of his work is a sophisticated physiological model embedded in high-fidelity human patient simulators. These simulators don’t just mimic symptoms—they respond in real time to interventions like blood loss or drug administration, based on integrated models of cardiovascular, respiratory, and other systems. “Most people rush to the clinical scenario,” Rich explains. “We slow it down. We ask: what’s happening in the body? What systems are involved? What’s the underlying physiology?”

This approach—what Rich proudly calls “basic science simulation”—is rare and technically demanding. Writing these scenarios requires a deep understanding of systems physiology and the ability to translate that into dynamic, interactive teaching tools. “It’s hard,” he says. “You need someone who understands how all the systems integrate. That kind of expertise is rare.”

The real breakthrough came with the advent of virtual patients. Unlike physical  manikins, which are limited by space and cost, virtual patients can be projected to large groups, making simulation-based teaching scalable. “Suddenly, we could bring the patient into the lecture theatre,” Rich says. “Students could see the signs, the monitors, the changes in real time—and we could talk through the physiology as it happened.”

Rich’s team has developed a suite of scenarios that can be used not just for clinical drills, but to teach physiology to scientists, early years health professionals, and even engineers. These scenarios are now being referred to by some as “The Bristol Method”—a testament to their originality and impact. It also got Rich to thinking that this model, this novel approach, wasn’t just useful in Bristol – it could be applied to clinical and science education all over the world.

This innovation caught the attention of a major simulation company. One of their senior figures saw the potential for a global digital textbook based on Rich’s scenarios—a resource that could teach physiology through simulation to students around the world. But just as the partnership was gaining momentum, the company’s healthcare division was sold off. “It was like a cull,” he says. “I had to ask myself—was this the end of the road?” Instead, it became a turning point.

The Fellowship That Reignited the Flame

The University Enterprise Fellowship arrived at exactly the right moment. “I saw it as a last chance to get this off the ground again,” Rich explains. “I needed the headspace, the leeway, and the access to expertise, to figure out what to do next.” The Fellowship gave him all of that—and more.

The fellowship was fortuitously timed, as it was awarded around the same time that Rich reconnected with one of the key figures in the simulation world: Willem van Meurs, one of the original developers of the physiological model used in simulators. Encouraged by a mutual contact, they began collaborating and co-authored a short book, Learning Physiology in Context, which helped raise the profile of Rich’s approach internationally. “Willem is incredibly respected in the field,” Rich says. “he is an incredible mentor and having him champion our work gave it real credibility. Not only that our collaboration opened new avenues and we have become firm friends”

This encouragement and mentorship, coupled with the experiences Rich gained more directly through his Fellowship, gave him the confidence and credibility to engage with new industry partners. “I’ve learned how to assess whether a company is the right fit,” he says. “I understand funding stages, risk, and how to speak their language. I can differentiate, recognise whether a prospective partner is a good fit for me, rather than feel I have to engage with any and every potential deal. That’s all thanks to the Fellowship and the support from the Research Commercialisation team.”

Through the Fellowship, Rich has been able to explore new commercial pathways beyond traditional licensing—such as commercial research partnerships and scenario development funding. “Before, I only really knew about licensing,” he says. “Now I understand there are other models that might be a better fit for what we’re doing.”

And while the journey hasn’t been linear, it’s been transformative. “Without the Fellowship, I think I’d have called it a day,” he reflects. “Now, we’re further down the pipeline than I ever expected—and we’re just getting started.”

A New Chapter: Digital Twins and Global Reach

Now, Rich is working closely with a dynamic new company developing human digital twins—virtual models of the human body that could transform healthcare education. They’ve already run a successful pilot with Bristol medical students and are exploring ways to integrate Rich’s scenarios into their platform.

“This isn’t just about licensing anymore,” he says. “It could be a commercial research partnership, or a model where the company funds scenario development within the university.”

And it’s not just about Rich. He’s already involving early-career colleagues in the work, offering them a taste of enterprise and a chance to shape the future of physiology education. “We’ve got some brilliant early-career academics on board,” he says. “They’ve got the energy, the ideas—and now, the opportunity.”

Rich is passionate about creating space for others to grow. “You can’t overestimate the value of a young, enthusiastic person,” he says. “They bring energy, fresh thinking, and they’re not bogged down by the same pressures. Time doesn’t work the same way for them—it’s a real asset.”

But he’s also quick to point out the importance of mentorship. “It’s a pleasure of my job—seeing younger people come up the tree and go above me. That’s absolutely brilliant.” One of his team members, a teaching associate and systems integrative physiologist, joined while finishing her PhD and was unsure about her future on the teaching track. “This has opened her eyes to what academic work can be,” Rich says. “It’s not just lectures and marking—it can reach into healthcare, industry, education policy. That’s what the Fellowship has helped me to facilitate.”

By including early-career colleagues in meetings, conferences, and collaborative projects, Rich is not only building capacity for his enterprise work—he’s also helping to cultivate a new generation of enterprising academics.

Advice for Future Fellows

Rich’s advice to the next cohort of Enterprise Fellows is simple: be open, be brave, and make time. “The business world isn’t as scary as you think,” he says. “And even if you’ve worked with industry before, you’ll still learn a lot. Just make sure you carve out time to engage with everything the Fellowship offers—you won’t regret it.”

From simulation suites to international partnerships, Rich’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, creativity, and the right support at the right time. As he puts it: “Without the Fellowship, we’d probably have called it a day. Now, we’re just getting started.”

Thanks, Rich! If you’d like to hear more from Rich and our other University Enterprise Fellows, sign up to the Festival of Enterprise (Wednesday 4th June). In the meantime, I’ll be back next Tuesday with another UEF profile.