Dr Sophie Marie Briffa read for a BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry with Materials (2011) and a MSc. in Mechanical Engineering (2013) at the University of Malta. In 2017 she was awarded a PhD in Environmental Health Risk from the University of Birmingham (UoB). This was part funded by the FP7 project NanoMILE and Malta’s Endeavour Scholarship Scheme. Her PhD thesis, titled “Synthesis and Ageing Transformations of Manufactured Metal Oxide Nanomaterials” was awarded the Sir Oliver Lodge Prize (2017) for its quality. She is currently employed as a lecturer at University of Malta.
Her research interests include nanomaterial (NM) synthesis and characterisation, NM behaviour and transformations in the environment, nanosafety and NMs for the purpose of conservation.
Sophie also holds a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She completed a BA in Dance Education with the RAD in conjunction with the University of Bath (part-time distance-learning) in 2019. Her admirable performance in these studies has been rewarded with the Iris Truscott Scholarship (2015-2016) and her dissertation was awarded the Philip Nind Award for outstanding quality.