Gavin Hill

Gavin oversees the development and applications of different testing methodologies and how new techniques can be applied to improve the scientific understanding. In addition, he liaises with the commercial team to support the adaptation of Biotransformation additives. Gavin also oversees the smooth running of the lab, ensuring instrumentation is calibrated, providing training and experience to technicians on new techniques as they are developed. Witha background in polymer science, Gavin is also responsible for ensuring that testing and analysis is conducted correctly and to translate the science to the commercial team.

Gavin attended the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Catalysis and then carried out a PhD on Synthesis and Testing of Novel Biodegradable Surfactants: this research was partly industry funded. After finishing his PhD, Gavin moved to the Vrije Universiteit - Brussels, to the Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science group where he worked on several individual and collaborative projects. Gavin was brought in to try and create a polymer synthesis platform for new projects within the department which excelled at many aspects of polymer analysis such as rheology and calorimetry. in return Gavin was able to broaden his understanding of polymer properties and analysis. In 2016, he returned to the UK and has brought his experience and understanding of polymer chemistry and analysis to Polymateria, where he is working on new techniques for studying the degradation of plastics as well as developing a new range of additives that will more effectively lead to a controlled breakdown and biodegradation of traditionally non-biodegradable materials.