I recently achieved chartered status and this is a very useful tool for me in my development. My boss introduced me to CChem and said the recognition was important for me, and I am delighted to have achieved it.
Dr Yun Jin’s association with the Royal Society of Chemistry has moved from receiving help and advice during his early career, to providing guidance and support to others through his work on RSC committees.
Wanting to give something back, Yun is actively involved in various RSC committees including the Industrial Physical Chemistry Interest Group committee where with other accomplished chemists and businesspeople across various industries he works to share knowledge and encourage positive change.
As an active committee member he helps to organise events related to industry and generate interest from attendees from both industry and academia. “It is very important to have a mixture of people at these events as it aids networking and collaboration,” says Yun.
People can meet to discuss common areas of interest and problems and there is always the chance to seek collaboration and meet potential employers.
Yun did that when he met his current employer after making a presentation at a conference in the US and is now a Senior Scientist at FiberLean Technologies, a leading global producer of Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC).
The product coming out of the FiberLean Technologies proprietary process is a MFC-mineral composite. The mineral plays an essential role in the transfer of mechanical energy, transforming regular pulp into MFC. The company’s mission is to further industrialise and proliferate the use of micro and nano cellulosics. These natural, renewable, abundant, high performance materials have, according to the company, the power to lead a material science revolution towards a more sustainable future.
FiberLean Technologies is continuously establishing collaborations with leading market players and institutions to develop applications across a wide range of products and this is the area that Yun is currently absorbed in.
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Originally from China, Yun’s undergraduate degree in applied chemistry was obtained at Shanghai University. Following the completion of his undergraduate degree he was looking to go abroad and broaden his vision. Having completed some management courses, he decided to changed direction to broaden his career options further.
“I was lucky to get accepted to study management and finance for my Master’s degree at the University of Bath. It is an excellent university and I gained great connections and improved my interpersonal skills. You have to improve your communication in order to persuade others. I think it is very important to have communication skills alongside the more technical skills.”
Having obtained his Master’s and looking to go back to China, he also had the strong calling to return to chemistry to build a more sustainable society. After spending a few months at Hong Kong University, Yun applied to return to Bath and continue his studies. His PhD subject was looking at ways of producing and using renewable biomaterial (nano-oxidised cellulose) as a replacement of polymers from petrochemical sources and non-biodegradable materials, such as silicones.
I was studying something I was really passionate about as my PhD was about new types of nanomaterials made from trees. This has the potential to change people’s lives and improve the properties of many different products.
“I had always wanted to work in industry as I wanted to apply what I had learnt to be able to change lives and realise this in my lifetime. Plus I wanted to combine this with doing good and making money.
“My job at FiberLean is delivering on my aspirations. Our initial application was in the paper industry where the additives made paper stronger and this in turn helps the paper industry cut their costs and make the paper cheaper. I am now looking at different applications for the technology and have filed a few new patents for the projects I am involved in.
"I have also taken increased responsibility through the technology development with partners and participation in the full-scale production trials. I recently achieved chartered status and this is a very useful tool for me in my development. My boss introduced me to CChem and said the recognition was important for me, and I am delighted to have achieved it.”