I graduated from the University of Leeds with BSc (Hons) in Food Science (1985) and PhD (Food Science, 1989). My thesis involved the application of computer simulation methods to the study of food proteins and colloids. After Postdoctoral positions at Leeds I worked as an analytical chemist for Yorkshire water Labservices in York, before moving to New Zealand to take up a position with the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute (now Fonterra Research). Here I became interested in the functional properties of food proteins and developed an experimental research programme to complement my computational interests. After 7 years I returned to Europe to take up a post as Associate Professor in the Dept. of Dairy Science, School of Food Science, Royal Veterinary & Agriculture University, Copenhagen (now Copenhagen University). In 2001, I joined Heriot-Watt as a lecturer in Food & Beverage Technology, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2007.