Celebrating the legacy of Mrs Marion Redfearn: chemist and champion of women in STEM
Outstanding chemist Marion Redfearn studied at University of Cambridge before embarking on a career in the Chemistry Department at the Central Electricity Research Laboratories (CERL) in Leatherhead, Surrey.
After a lifelong career in a male-dominated profession, Mrs Redfearn made a bequest of £500,000 in 2007 to the University of Surrey to establish a Trust that would enable women to gain a postgraduate qualification in Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Electrical Engineering or Sound Recording.
Since then, 16 female “Marion Redfearn Scholars’ have had their dream of PhD study unlocked with the Trust’s backing.
Dr Ella Schneider is one of these young women. After completing a degree in Physics at Surrey in 2019, Ella was keen to take her studies further and thanks the Marion Redfearn Trust she was able to fulfil her aspirations.
“The funding enabled me to undertake a PhD of my choice without stress of how to finance it. Being selected for the scholarship gave me confidence in my ability to undertake and complete a PhD.”Dr Ella Schneider, former Marion Redfearn Scholar, now Research Liaison Fellow at the Surrey Ion Beam Centre
Based at the Surrey Ion Beam Centre, Ella’s PhD research focused on creating the advanced materials needed to build quantum computers. Ella explains, “While everyday computers are made of silicon, standard silicon isn't compatible with the quantum world; microscopic impurities that conventional computers ignore can completely disrupt highly sensitive quantum bits (qubits). My work used existing industrial manufacturing processes to solve this problem. I used electron microscopy to inspect and perfect these materials at the atomic scale.”
On completing her PhD, Ella was offered a job as a Research Liaison Fellow at the Surrey Ion Beam Centre. She now works with our single ion implantation facility; a cutting-edge tool that allows us to place individual atoms into materials to create qubits.
“It is an incredibly rewarding and challenging role that connects me with leading researchers both across the UK and globally. Looking ahead, I hope to continue building my own research portfolio and driving advancements in this field.”
Reflecting on the donation that helped get her to where she is today, Ella says “It feels very meaningful to be part of Marion Redfearn’s legacy. As a woman navigating a career in STEM, her generosity and support are inspiring. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to carry her values forward, and I hope to use my own career to support the next generation of women entering this field.”
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