If the use of chemicals as weapons of war fills you with horror, then you’re not alone. Meet Olivia Ibbotson, whose unusual journey through life has led her to a PhD at London Met that tackles the international criminalization of biological and chemical weapons.
Tell us a bit about your background
I used to coach gymnastics throughout my youth – and then I stopped coaching when I was about 18. Throughout my GCSEs and A levels my academic interests mostly focused on politics – I was very very vocal as a teenager – and I was a big feminist. I remember being in one of my first sociology classes and a question was, who’s a feminist? I was probably one of the only people to raise my hand. Until the end of the year – then everyone raised their hand because they understood what a feminist was.
I was very into politics at that age and still am now, although I undertook my bachelor’s in the life sciences. I've always been interested in science – when I was little, I was always the person to question why why why. I was also interested in military and medical history – particularly when I did a project on Vietnam in Secondary school. We did a module on biological and chemical weapons which was the first time I had been introduced to the subject, which is actually linked my current PhD research.
Tell us about your academic journey.
I had quite an untraditional route into getting into Biomedical Science. I originally took my A levels in Government and Politics, Sociology and Psychology. I had to take a foundation year first – so I originally came to London Met to study Forensic Science. I fell in love with the biomedical aspect of it, and so I worked very very hard to make up for the fact that I didn't have science A levels. I managed to switch courses into Biomedical Science and my first two years were pretty much online because of COVID. I studied at home which was great because I had all the opportunity in the world to study.
My favourite part of my degree was an infection control module taught by Ian Hancock – we went from A-Z on how to manage infections and how to prevent them, and all the different steps.
In my third year I got to undertake my dissertation project (Supervisor – Cassandra Terry) which I loved – I studied protein misfolding disorders and my project was entitled ‘Replicating Hens Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) fibril formation in vitro using fluorescent spectrometry as a way to screen natural compounds as potential therapeutics for protein misfolding disorders’.
I used HEWL to imitate the human brain cells and put it into different conditions to try and initiate misfolding. I then used natural compounds to try and reverse or prevent it from misfolding. I used compounds derived from red wine and green tea, which revealed quite promising results.
Did you get to use the Superlab?
Because I spent my first two years online, I was quite nervous to go into the Superlab. But I got the best training and was very comfortable quite early on, especially with undertaking my dissertation in the lab – I got a lot of hands-experience working alone and in partnership.
Did you do any work placements or gain any industrial experience?
Unfortunately, COVID meant a lot of institutions stopped placements. I emailed NHS labs, pathology labs, mortuaries – I sent a million emails. I did volunteer in a high school in my second and third years as a science technician. I worked with another technician, and we set up lab practical’s for students from year 10 to year 13. I also helped do a little bit of teaching in these classes. Most of my work was focused on health and safety, so doing auditing for chemicals. At the end of the year, you have to write exactly what chemicals you have and how much is in them and sort out the wastage, so I got very good hands-on experience. I do still pop back to school semi regularly as well – I developed a very good working relationship with the science technician.
What made you want to study a PhD at London met in particular?
I've always wanted to do a PhD – I've always been interested in research. I'm an avid reader. I love writing, I love words, I like writing essays – so I always knew that I wanted to turn it into a career in academia, but it was the Biological Security Research Centre here that sparked my interest. I was looking up biological security on the internet and at different PhD options and I saw that we had a Centre here which was perfect for me. I had a meeting with Professor Lijun Shang who is the director. We began talking about different ideas – and that's how I fell into the PhD route.
I have an excellent supervision team with Professor Lijun Shang who provides both life and social science experience, Professor Don MacRaild who is an historian, and Professor Malcolm Dando, from Bradford University, who originally trained in Biology but has spent his career researching international security focusing on chemical and biological weapons (particularly bio-neurological weapons). As such, I have a very very good, wise supervision team – interdisciplinary as well.
The research that I'm doing does not necessarily fall into one subject category – say if I have a chemical, I have to look at it from every perspective – politics, international relations, economics etc… – every sort of subject fits into it, which has been very interesting, but also a challenge. I had to spend my first year pretty much learning every international law and convention – but that was also fun.
What do you hope the impact of your research will be?
I would like greater public awareness in general, and more discussions within the international community.
For example, there's a chemical that I've been doing quite a lot of research on the moment that isn't actually covered under any of the weapons or arms control laws, but about 10 years ago did get quite a lot of attention. It has inconsistent attention from NGOs (non-governmental organisations) since, but not much in the international community – so I would like to bring a little bit of campaigning into getting these chemicals spoken about and just greater conversations about these weapons and the harm, research concerns and risks there that arise with them.
At the moment, we have so many different risk factors that we're facing in the 21st century – climate change, a rise in AI, in addition to how incredibly unstable international politics is creates and nurtures a honeypot for these sorts of things.
For example, as a result of climate change, there are various plant and zoonotic diseases that have arisen in Europe. I was reading the other day about Black Stem Rust – climate change has affected the jet streams which has led to rise in Black Stem Rust in Western Europe. I think it is just a very relevant, prominent subject.
How have you found the professors or your teachers?
They’ve been excellent – I cannot fault the guidance and the help I have been given. I have invaluable members of my supervision team, and I have spoken to PhD students from different universities and their experience is not the same as mine.
I pretty much have all the resources I need to complete my research. I could ask my supervisors any question and I would never be made to feel as though I was being a ‘silly PhD student’ or a young researcher. I have had so much support and mentorship. I feel like I am really being guided into a well-crafted career and I’m so grateful. I always say to my friends and family it's like I've won the lottery – I get to study and research exactly what I want with invaluable help and mentorship – it is excellent.
What drives you?
Curiosity, I would probably say. I’ve always been very very curious and wanting to know why and the thoughts behind things. From my research particularly, I think we can bring around real change – and so I think that's also what drives me. I get to study real-life situations that are currently happening and apply my own research to it.
The chemical that I've been researching to campaign that it's inhumane or should be made illegal – that is affecting people's lives now and has done for years. It isn't a pleasant topic and it can be emotionally quite difficult. I could spend a whole day researching the human effects that these chemicals have on people – from severe burns to birth defects 20 years down the line. It is also quite politically sensitive, so I also have to think on how I'm presenting my work and how I'm researching, if there's any of my own bias or any other bias in my research. Am I only looking at Western documents, or am I looking at documents from different regions of the world? How I am viewing the big picture? (not just through a narrow angle). I think that is probably what drives me – that I can fully dive into this topic and try to find answers to these questions that seem to be neglected. Particularly where you can see the real life consequences of these chemicals, whether that be in the land or humans.
What are you most proud of in your life?
The most challenging thing for me has been public speaking. I've always been quite a nervous public speaker, so my goal for my first year of my PhD was to get comfortable at public speaking, as that’s something that will be part of my career. In my first year I signed up for as many conferences and public speaking as possible. I memorised every single word I was going to say – and even when I was going to breathe!
At the London Metropolitan University Past, Present and Future conference, that is probably the proudest I have been. I lost sleep about the speeches for months and from the second I submitted my abstract it'd been looming over me. The fact that I managed to successfully complete those talks and win some prizes as well was a great personal (and academic) achievement for me. I won first prize for the lightning talk and then first prize for a recorded presentation I did as well – that was very good because I was so incredibly nervous, and I don't actually have any memories of being on stage at all!
I also learnt a lot about myself – I found that I actually find it easier to answer questions on stage than I do presenting work, which is probably because I don't have much time to think about it when I'm answering questions.
Are you working whilst studying?
Yes – originally when I started my PhD I was working in a bar and then in 2024 and I became a research assistant for the Biological Security Research Centre, and I’ve been helping on a British Academy-funded research project on biosecurity in agribusiness. I've been working with Professor Lijun Shang developing research materials for a Horizon Europe bid. My research has been focusing on biosecurity and its education within animals, plants and the environment. I have also been assisting on a separate project called the International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN). IBSEN is developing an international network of scientists, academics and various other experts in the field of biosecurity education.
In the first part of 2024 I also did some teaching as an associate lecturer. It’s great experience and life skills and you’re learning when you’re teaching.
Do you have a favourite place within the University?
My favourite place is the PhD office – it's where I complete my research and it's my favourite place firstly because it's like a nice safe little area for me to do my work so I can just put my headphones on and research from one hour to eight hours and it’ll go in the blink of an eye.
Secondly because of all the students and staff who are in the office – they are all very welcoming. I was quite nervous to go into the office – I didn't know how I'd be received, but I was received with open arms and everyone's very friendly and lovely and very supportive as well. If I have any questions, they’re more than happy to answer.
Tell us about your interests outside of uni and why they're important to you
Probably my main interest outside of university is reading – I am an avid reader, I have been since I was quite young. I read quite varied literature ranging from non-fiction to the classics to fantasy and science fiction. My favourite classic is A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and another favourite book which isn't a classic but I imagine probably will be eventually is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. A very good science fiction read that I just finished was The Ferryman by Justin Cronin which was excellent.
So what is your plan once you've finished the PhD?
I would like a career in academia – I enjoy researching, I enjoy writing so I would like to continue with research, and perhaps lead on to teaching. Professor Lijun Shang has provided invaluable guidance in regards to teaching, whether that be with marking or how to explain different concepts to students.
Any tips for research students?
Whether you do five minutes or two hours’ worth of research, it’s worth it. If you have a day where you feel as though you can't physically research any longer, five minutes is better than nothing. Normally five minutes is just enough to get you back into your research and interested again.
Find out more about our PhD courses
"I would like to bring a little bit of campaigning into getting these chemicals spoken about and just greater conversations about these weapons and the harm, research concerns and risks there that arise with them."