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Biography

Dr Samuel Patterson is innovations technology manager at Impact Solutions, where he leads the development of advanced biodegradation testing and sustainable materials innovation. He is a Future Leaders Research Fellow for Industry focused on delivering bio-based and biodegradable plastic alternatives. 

Since completing his PhD at Heriot-Watt University in biodegradable, stimuli-responsive polymers, Samuel has specialised in accelerating end-of-life assessment for bio-based and biodegradable plastics. He has built and commissioned biodegradation testing facilities and is pioneering high-throughput screening methodologies that dramatically reduce testing timelines for new sustainable materials. Samuel works closely with industry partners, standards committees, and research institutions to translate scientific insight into practical tools that enable faster, lower-risk sustainable materials development.

When your team can talk openly about mistakes, roadblocks, setbacks and have good technical conversations across disciplines 鈥� you know you have a solid research culture.

Samuel Patterson

Q&A

Can you tell us more about your work?

Increasingly, there is a push for industry to reduce reliance of fossil fuels, to generate disposable plastics, and move towards a more sustainable circular economy. Primarily, this consists of improving our waste management and recycling technologies, however there is a large portion of plastic materials that end up in the environment, no matter how hard we try to prevent it. My work focuses on developing plastic materials which have the smallest possible impact on the environment. That means generating new plastics from natural sources like plants, oils and algae and providing proof that no matter where in the world these materials end up; be it soil, rivers and streams or in the ocean 鈥� they will biodegrade. I am leading the development of new materials and quick tests for biodegradability which everyone can use to ensure we are not polluting our plant.

Who or what first sparked your interest in chemistry, and how has that interest evolved over time? 

It took me a while to really identify as a chemist. I fell into my undergraduate as a backup if I couldn鈥檛 get into veterinary science (spoiler 鈥� I couldn鈥檛). It wasn鈥檛 until I had to use my chemical knowledge to solve actual problems in the lab that I developed a real interest in being a better chemist. In the frame of problem solving, digging through textbooks and lecture notes became a treasure hunt rather than a slog through the mud!

What has been the most rewarding or memorable highlight of your career so far? 

The birth of my daughter shortly after leaving my PhD was a real shift in perspective for me. It told me I needed to forge a career where I could be as present and accountable for her as possible. 

What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced over the course of your time in science, and what have you learned from those experiences? 

One of the biggest challenges I faced was transitioning from academia into a commercial role within a small company, where I became responsible for ensuring my team鈥檚 work delivered real business value. It was no longer enough to pursue interesting lines of chemistry for their own sake 鈥� the focus had to shift towards identifying a clear unique selling point and a viable route to market. That required stepping outside the lab, building networks, and understanding where genuine market gaps existed. From this experience, I learned that the best ideas are often the simplest ones 鈥� those that are easiest to adopt and scale.

Thinking back to earlier in your career, are there any words of wisdom that you wish someone had told you? 

鈥淣o one knows what you are capable of unless you demonstrate it鈥�. On many occasions I was sad about being passed over for opportunities because I knew what I was capable of, but then it struck me that I鈥檇 never demonstrated my capabilities in a public forum. From then on, I sought any and all opportunities I could to present, manage, teach and lead. That led to a profound step change in my career opportunities. 

What does good research culture mean to you, and why does it matter? 

When your team can talk openly about mistakes, roadblocks, setbacks and have good technical conversations across disciplines 鈥� you know you have a solid research culture. A good research culture in the innovation is crucial to prevent getting stuck. Innovation comes from the cross-section of many disciplines working openly in unison. 

What is your favourite element and why? 

Hydrogen. Strip the electron off hydrogen and you have a single proton. Protons are what make things taste sour. That鈥檚 a subatomic particle that we can literally detect by taste!