Question: how many different material would you say you have researched?

Lisa Simmons answered on 7 Nov 2014:

Hmmm, quite a few different types of materials. I started working on metallic glasses (liquid metals) when I did my PhD, and I looked at materials for different applications, eg magnetic hard drives, superconductors and electronic devices. This is because with metallic glasses we can easily change the structure of the material, and really understand what is happening with the atoms (where they are going and what they are doing). I have also worked with dental clinicians and archaeologist looking at the structure of children’s teeth on samples that are over 600 years old. Now I look at materials for medical devices looking at whether we can coat them with something that stops anything nasty living on them, and also at designing new materials for medical implants for hips and knees.