Fiona Hatton

Dr Fiona Hatton is a Senior Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry at Loughborough University's Department of Materials, where she serves as Undergraduate Admissions Tutor and leads the Hatton Polymer Group. Her academic journey began with an MChem in Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology from the University of Liverpool in 2010, followed by a PhD from the same institution (2010-2014) focused on dendritic polymers for biomedical applications.

Her research program centers on sustainable polymer chemistry, with particular expertise in synthesizing well-defined copolymers from renewable resources. Key projects include leading an EPSRC New Investigator Award to develop new biobased polymers and serving as co-investigator on the Perpetual Plastics for Food-to-Go initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics in food packaging.

• Polymerisation of monomers from renewable resources
• Synthesis of block copolymer nanoparticles using polymerisation-induced self-assembly
• Investigation of responsive polymer colloids
• Preparation of polymeric biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering

Dr Hatton's research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging chemistry, materials science, and environmental sustainability to address pressing challenges in plastic pollution and sustainable materials development. Her work on microplastics characterization contributes significantly to understanding environmental impacts of polymer materials.

• EPSRC New Investigator Award for biobased polymer research
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, 2021)
• Academic Professional Apprenticeship (Level 7, 2021)

As an educator, Dr Hatton holds a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2024) and serves as Undergraduate Admissions Tutor. Her teaching focuses on polymer chemistry with emphasis on sustainable approaches. She has developed strong research leadership through her group's collaborative projects spanning biomedical applications to environmental sustainability.