A conversation with Debbie Huck-Jones at Malvern Panalytical
What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?
I hope the audience will find out how our range of analytical imaging systems can help them better understand and optimize their particulate materials, and how they can apply them to their workflow across a huge range of industries – from pharmaceutical development to metal powder production, and from R&D to manufacturing. I’m also looking forward to explaining the benefits our current customers have gained from using these technologies.
What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?
I would be really interested to hear from our audience about the challenges and bottlenecks they struggle with in their particular industry, and discuss how our technologies might be able to reduce these. I’m particularly looking forward to speaking to existing users of our imaging technologies, to understand how they are currently using them – what they like and what they could do without, or perhaps what really frustrates them. I’m definitely open to constructive criticism from the audience! I’m also keen to understand how they think the improvements we introduce will be of interest to them. Equally, I’m very excited to explore new possibilities with any audience members who are totally new to analytical imaging.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I really enjoy meeting people and learning how and why they use our instruments. I love learning about new applications and solving new problems. I have been lucky enough to travel around many different countries gaining perspectives from many different customers across a variety of applications. No two days are ever the same!
How did you get into the industry?
In many ways I got into the industry by chance. When I completed my PhD, I knew that working in a lab full time wasn’t right for me and that I wanted to be in a more commercial role, but equally I wanted to stay in science. I started off working for an engineering company as a sales engineer – this was a great commercial introduction but wasn’t ‘scientific’ enough!
I actually grew up near Malvern (it really is a place), and knew some people who worked at Malvern Panalytical, so always kept a look-out for available roles. One day, I spotted a vacancy for a product technical specialist and decided to go for it – it was a perfect fit for me! I have now moved into product management but my role still offers a great balance of scientific elements, working with particle characterization, and also commercial experience, working directly with customers and helping solve their challenges.
Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
I actually love the Malvern Hills. I grew up in a tiny village not far away from Malvern, and it was always such a childhood treat to go walking in the hills. The view from the top, over Herefordshire and onto Wales, then back across Worcestershire, is amazing! Whenever I’m travelling, that view of the hills coming into sharper focus is always the first sign of being close to home.
Join Debbie Huck-Jones on 12th December for a webinar entitled ‘Clarity by Design: The Future of Particle Characterization’ at 2PM London/9AM New York.