ROle Models
We believe everybody can be a part of the world of STEM and can share their experiences as role models in their own way. Our role models programme celebrates some of the disabled and neurodivergent people who work in or study STEM subjects, use STEM in their everyday lives, or just have a passion for what STEM can offer.
We are building a community where every disabled and neurodivergent person feels welcome to become part of the world of STEM, regardless of age, experience or career stage.
Find out more about becoming a role model.
If you’re interested in becoming one of our role models, please complete this short survey.
If you have any questions or require any further information please contact em@lightyearfoundation.org
Ethan, Izzy, James, Kieran, Louis, Luke, and Poppy
Students from The Oaks Specialist College
Lara Ayris
Job Title: Managing Director of WPS Compliance Consulting Ltd
Disability: Autistic and Irlen Syndrome
Chris Baily
Job Title: Research Scientist for Servomex
Disability: Visually impaired, living with the degenerative eye condition Retinitis Pigmentosa
Dr Hannah Barham-Brown
Job Title: Doctor, Speaker, Disability and Gender Campaigner.
Disability: Ehlers Danlos Syndrome with Dysautonomia
Dr. Jessica Boland
Job Title: Senior Lecturer in Functional Materials and Devices, University of Manchester
Disability: Hard of Hearing
Vicky Bowskill
Job Title: PhD Researcher and Science Illustrator
Disability: Autism, Dyslexia, and Irlen Syndrome
Andrea Chapman
Job Title: Application Support Brachytherapy
Disability: Dominant Optic atrophy
Glen Cornhill
Job Title: Space Project Lead and Tutor at G2G Communities CIC / Chief Technology Officer at Artemis Space / Open University Masters Student
Disability: Dyslexia and Irlen syndrome
Dr David Cornwell
Job Title: Senior Lecturer in Geophysics, University of Aberdeen
Disability: Type 1 Diabetes
Amy-Charlotte Devitz (Charlotte)
Job Title: Frontier’s Masters Student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan
Disability: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Pandysautonomia (EDS + PANDYS)
Dr Patrick Dunne
Job Title: Lecturer in Physics and Data Science, Imperial College London
Disability: Asperger's, Dyspraxia, Tourette’s
Julie Eshleman
Job Title: Disability Researcher, University of Stirling
Disability: Autism
Ross Exton
Role: Video Producer and Director at Watch and Learn Productions
Disability: Hearing loss
Claire Given
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Sara Fletcher
Job Title: Head of Impact and Engagement, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Disability: Dystonia
Dr Hamied Haroon
Job Title: Research Associate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Manchester
Disability: Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
Elli Harpum
Area of Work: Quantum Physics
Disability: Type 1 diabetes, wheelchair user, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), deaf
Natalie Hiller
Job Title: Chartered Accountant and Co-Chair of Disability Awareness Network at PwC
Disability: Mobility and dexterity, wheelchair user
Dr. Claire Malone
Job Title: Science Journalist and Inclusion Consultant
Disability: Cerebral Palsy (rare subset, choreoathetoid)
Laura Martin
Job Title: Master’s student in Observational Astrophysics (Liverpool John Moores University)
Disability: Autism Spectrum Disorder & Chronic Migraine
Dr Camilla Pang
Job Title: Postdoctoral Scientist and Author.
Disability: Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Asperger’s), ADHD.
Emily Radley
Job Title: Head of Manufacturing and Technical Customer Support at Hexigone
Disability: ADHD and Dyslexia
Daisy Shearer
Job Title: Physics postgraduate researcher & experimental quantum physicist
Disability: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Tosin Sonubi
Role: Data Engineer
Disability: ASD, ADHD and Dyslexia
Zach Walker
Role: Chief Operating Officer at Jamescape
Disability: ASD
Alexia Alexander Wight
Job Title: Trainee Science Teacher and Physicist
Disability: Mental Health Disability
Lucy Williams
Job Title: Assistant Editor at the Royal Astronomical Society
Disability: Visually Impaired (Oculocutaneous Albinism)