About
Jo completed a first class MSc in Natural Sciences degree from the University of Exeter, with a research project in computational and mathematical neuroscience. The project involved probabilistic and dynamic models to investigate perceptual switches in binocular and tactile rivalry. She also completed a semester abroad at ETH Zurich in the Health Sciences (HEST) department.
Following her studies, Jo obtained a joint research position at King’s College London, Imperial, and the Francis Crick institute. Her research was at the interface between mathematics, statistical physics, and immunology, investigating the underlying mechanisms by which immune cells find and extract foreign antigen molecules. Using tools from stochastic processes and computational simulations, she aimed to better understand her lab’s experimental observations.
Jo’s motivation to pursue a PhD in physics stems from a desire to study well-controlled systems using both experimental methods and continuum modelling. Her interdisciplinary background has enabled her to apply mathematical and computational techniques across a wide range of scientific problems—from neuroscience and immunology to physics and materials. She is particularly inspired by research that contributes to addressing global challenges. In particular, she is driven by the potential for physics-based research to support the transition to renewable energy technologies through better understanding of the processes underlying critical mineral formation.
Interests
Outside of her research, Jo enjoys competitive sports, including rowing, taekwondo and has recently taken up Ultimate Frisbee for a bit of fun. She takes any chance to get outside and escape the city with hikes in the Alps, or surfing and sailing at her favourite beaches in Devon, and now Marseille.