A Lancaster University technician’s work has been recognised by a prestigious national award.

Jessica Mehers, a Chemical Engineering Technician and Chemical Sciences Degree Apprentice within Lancaster’s Engineering Department, won the ‘Newest Face’ award as part of the ‘Technicians Make it Happen’ campaign.

As part of the competition, which champions the work of technicians, Miss Mehers’ photograph and case study has been displayed in the Mining Institute in Newcastle as part of the Great Exhibition of the North.

After starting her career as a quality control technician in the food production industry, now working as a chemical engineering technician Miss Mehers gets to work on cutting-edge research such as deriving biodiesel energy from food products.

She has also undertaken a Royal Society of Chemistry scholarship to travel to Uganda to demonstrate chemistry experiments to children and teachers.

Miss Mehers was nominated for the award by her colleague John Baum, a technician within Lancaster’s Department of Chemistry.

He said: “I nominated Jess because she has made the most of the training and opportunities available at Lancaster University. She is a great role model for anybody thinking about entering a scientific career via a technician route. Throughout her time at Lancaster jess has also been a keen advocate of both STEM outreach and promoting technicians to the wider university community.”

Miss Mehers said: “I am really happy to become the newest face of ‘Technicians Make it Happen’ as I have been working hard to promote technicians within our University. It was great to visit the exhibition and seeing a life sized picture of myself was surreal.”

Professor Claudio Paoloni, Head of Engineering, said: “The inexhaustible enthusiasm and great expertise of Jess are exemplar and inspirational for students, staff and potential applicants in technical disciplines. Jess fully deserves this prestigious award as a recognition of the best value that technical staff brings everyday to the Engineering Department.”