My scholarship journey: Krystal Lee
Krystal Lee, one of Croucher’s Class of 2024, is set to begin her doctoral studies at the University of Oxford, where she will focus her research on high-voltage charge storage processes in “beyond lithium” battery technologies. Lee’s journey has been shaped by her passion for chemistry and a desire to make a meaningful impact through scientific discovery.
Lee’s academic path has taken her from early schooling in Hong Kong to Oxford where she completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees in chemistry. During her time there, she was actively involved in Access Abroad Hong Kong, a charity that helps Hong Kong students navigate the application process for universities in the UK. Her experience as a volunteer guiding aspiring students has deeply resonated with Lee, and she found great fulfilment in it. “It’s a great feeling knowing you have made a difference,” she told us.
The inspiration to pursue a career in science was initially sparked by Lee’s own school experiences, particularly the passion and mentorship of her physics teacher. “He would always teach beyond the scope of the syllabus, explaining interesting questions that we always wondered about,” she said. The inspiration from this teacher is something that continues to encourage her to want to pursue science.
Lee’s research interests led her to explore the challenges of lithium-ion battery technology, a crucial field that supports consumer electronic devices and plays a vital role in renewable energy storage, focusing on developing more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives. In her master’s project, she investigated the use of iron in lithium-ion cathode materials as a substitute for the commonly-used but more expensive and toxic cobalt. During this research, Lee discovered that iron caused major structural changes in lithium-ion cathode materials, which altered the ability of the batteries to cycle reversibly. This experience inspired Lee to delve deeper into the field. She plans to explore the sodium-ion battery system during her doctoral studies.
“After I started my corporate job, it made me realise how much I missed being in research
The decision to pursue a PhD was further reinforced by a recent experience in the corporate world. After her master’s degree, Lee was offered a job in large company and worked there for a year. “After I started my corporate job, it made me realise how much I missed being in research, where you take ownership of your own projects. You are the person responsible for it, and where you want to take it is up to you,” she said.
Croucher’s support will be extremely valuable for Lee, providing her with the opportunity to study abroad and allowing her to connect with a network of scientists from Hong Kong who are based all around the world.
Lee was also drawn to Croucher’s commitment to science outreach, which provides scholars like herself the opportunity to connect with local schools and inspire the next generation of students to pursue scientific interests. “This is a very precious opportunity for me,” concluded Lee.