Introducing our pledger of the month, Dr. Claire Trant! 🌟 Dr. Claire Trant PhD FRSA graduated with a PhD in Material Science from Imperial College London in 2019, following an MSc in Geophysics in 2013, and a BSc in Physics in 2012. Claire’s journey through Imperial began with a BSc in Physics, which was quite different from her expectations, involving conceptual thinking and the surprise of learning C++. She fondly remembers forming strong friendships during this time, especially through her involvement in the Sailing Club. After completing her MSc in Petroleum Geophysics, she worked for two years before returning to Imperial to pursue her PhD in Material Science, where she worked with Rolls-Royce under Professor David Dye. Her research focused on fatigue in gamma titanium aluminide, a material being tested for use in turbine blades. What inspired Claire most at Imperial was the diversity of thought and the sheer number of passionate, intelligent individuals across various disciplines. Being in such an environment pushed her out of her comfort zone, helping her grow both personally and professionally. Today, Dr. Trant is the CEO and Co-Founder of Untap Health, a wastewater surveillance startup that develops cutting-edge technology to detect pathogens in wastewater for early disease detection. She emphasises that good communication has been essential to her success, a skill she honed at Imperial. Her career highlights include starting her company, building a talented team, securing investment, and achieving her first group of satisfied customers. When asked for advice for current students, Claire recommends taking full advantage of everything Imperial has to offer, whether it’s clubs, societies, or the opportunities that living in London provides. Signing the Imperial Entrepreneurs’ Pledge was Claire’s way of giving back to the institution that has supported her throughout her journey. “Imperial helped build my network and develop my skills as a leader,” she says. She fondly remembers her first pitch at the WE Innovate competition, where she gained valuable public speaking experience. Shortly after, she represented Imperial at Stage Two, Europe’s largest pitching competition, where she won six awards, including Best Female Founder and Best Tech Innovation. Claire is passionate about promoting women in STEM. Through Untap Health, she provides internships for young women to develop their business skills. During her PhD, she mentored girls from underprivileged schools and has continuously aims to inspire more women to pursue careers in STEM. Could you be a pledger? A gift of any size by an Imperial alumnus could help accelerate progress in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges while giving students the chance to do what they love and fulfil their potential. To find out more, visit: https://lnkd.in/eTuEBMpr #entrepreneurship #philanthropy #legacy #imperialmeansbusiness #enterprise #Inventedatimperial
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Well done Claire
Director of Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London
1moThank you so much for making this commitment Claire Trant PhD FRSA 🙏