YCP Industrial placement and apprenticeship symposium 2026

Paul obtained his MChem and PhD degrees from the University of Liverpool. Paul’s PhD in synthetic methodology and catalysis was carried out under the supervision of Professor Jianlaing Xiao whom, along with two more group members, cofounded LCC in 2014. Since then, Paul led the company through its acquisition by XtalPi in June 2025. The team of now ~20 people at LCC are now working closely with the >1,000-member team of XtalPi to strengthen our platform technologies and data-driven drug discovery in the AI and automation era. Paul has been a SCI Mentor for the past 3 years and is a passionate supporter of early career development efforts within life sciences.

With a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Newcastle University, Hannah began her career at Croda, a FTSE 100 global speciality chemicals company, through their graduate programme. She gained broad experience across the organisation, completing rotations in the applications laboratory, sales development and digital sales and marketing. During the Covid 19 pandemic, Hannah was seconded to Alabama, USA, where she supported the manufacture and delivery of lipid nanoparticles used in a Covid 19 vaccine.
Hannah has since transitioned into Internal Communications, where she plays a key role in supporting organisational change, strategy execution and executive communications. Her work aims to support employees to feel engaged, informed and inspired in their roles. Most recently, Hannah led the implementation of a global employee listening platform to enhance understanding and drive improvements to colleague experiences across the company.

Kay Yeung graduated from The University of Manchester with an MChem degree in Chemistry with Industrial Experience and a PhD degree in Chemistry. She has experience in both academia and industry, working as a postdoctoral researcher and a placement student. She currently works at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation, as the Head of the Digital Research Infrastructure Programme. Alongside her current role, she is completing a leadership and management apprenticeship. She has been a member of the SCI since 2016 and is a recipient of an SCI PhD Messel scholarship, a Leverhulme travel bursary, and several presentation awards.