Dr Stephen Hodge MRSC

Winner: 2022 Rising Star in Industry Award

Versarien plc

For strategic leadership in developing greener solutions and advocating for global regulations related to the physical and toxicological testing of graphene.

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I've been very lucky to see my own patents and inventions transfer from idea to proof of concept through to full scale commercialisation.

Dr Stephen Hodge is Chief Technology Officer at Versarien plc, an advanced engineering materials group. The company creates innovative engineering solutions for its clients in a diverse range of industries. Stephen leads the advanced materials businesses, which are predominantly focused on the manufacturing and commercialisation of graphene across multiple sectors. Their current focus is designing and developing products and solutions for the construction and textiles sectors that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable circular economy.

With the scaling up of novel nanomaterials comes standardisation and significant regulation challenges. Stephen has a key role in ensuring that their graphene materials are registered appropriately and ensure that they, and other graphene manufacturers, are responsible in doing everything they can to ensure the safe manufacture, incorporation and use of these novel materials. He does this through his involvement with various working groups looking at nanomaterials characterisation and human and environmental toxicological testing.

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Dr Stephen Hodge graduated from the University of Bath with his MChem in chemistry in 2008 and then obtained his PhD in nanomaterial chemistry at Imperial College London in 2012. He has held postdoctoral research associate positions at Imperial and the University of Cambridge He was also a bye-fellow of Murray Edwards college and teaching fellow in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) programme in Graphene Technology.

Stephen was appointed Chief Technology Officer of Versarien plc in January 2021. Prior to this he was Head of Research at Versarien, a role he held since July 2018. Stephen is a member of the International Advisory Board for the Graphene NOWNANO CDT at the University of Manchester. He is also a member of the Graphene Flaghip's ECHA-REACH working group, and is Chair of the Technical Working Group within the Graphene REACH registration consortium.

Q+A

Who or what has inspired you?

I have met so many inspirational scientists and worked for some great minds. Working in carbon nanomaterials there are the likes of Millie Dresselhaus (‘the Queen of Carbon Science’), Rodney Ruoff, Andrea Ferrari, and the Nobel prize winners Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov to look up to and be inspired by, not to mention my PhD supervisor Professor Milo Shaffer who taught me so much.

What motivates you?

I like to learn as much as possible. Working with graphene that has so many interesting properties that can be applicable to almost every sector keeps me interested and motivated. But not just science, we recently started a business in South Korea and now I’m learning the Korean language and culture so that I can communicate better with my colleagues – at least socially!

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

A career in chemistry is a great choice and so multidisciplinary; chemistry sits at the epicentre of everything, there are so many paths one might take and skills learnt along the way that will be transferrable to many other industries and careers.

What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?

I've been very lucky to see my own patents and inventions transfer from idea to proof of concept through to full scale commercialisation. Often, I don’t get to see this whole process as things are handed over to someone else.

What is your favourite element?

My answer is not very exotic; I wouldn't have had the career I've had so far if it wasn't for carbon, so that has to be my number one choice!