Radka Petkova

• Interests: biomaterials, nanotechnology
• Supervisor: Ian Tucker
• Host institution: Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK

Short Bio

Originally I’m from Bulgaria and my MSc thesis was about including metallic nanoparticles in ordered structures, such as foam films, and the characterizations of the obtained structures via AFM technique and X-Ray reflectivity. I have had the privilege to conduct such a study at the Comissariat à l’Energie Atomique (DSM/DRECAM/SPEC) – Saclay, France and be a part of this great scientific community.

After obtaining my Master degree, I have gained a lot of know-how in laboratory work, for five years in one of the best departments of Sofia University: the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy. In that Department I have defended my PhD thesis in Theoretical Chemistry on the surfactant-polymer interaction subject and have worked also on the problems of foaming, antifoams, spreading and wetting, stability of thin liquid films.

Since then I work as Post Doc research associate concerning the evaluation of the potential of biosurfactants for future commercial applications, gaining skills and insights about the structuring of the biomaterials and physico-chemical behavior of the biocompounds. I have the great possibility to work with the neutron reflection experimental facilities of STFC/ISIS as well. The host organization for the duration of the project is the R&D Department of Unilever PLC, Port Sunlight, United Kingdom.

In 2015 I was accepted as experienced researcher in SNAL project and I will work to assess the impact of membrane lytic biopolymers on skin lipid membranes. The host organization is Unilever Port Sunlight.