Emma Hawkins

Since I was young, I have always been interested in agriculture and nature, whether that be exploring the countryside or spending weekends and holidays on friends’ farms. This, combined with my passion for science, led me to study Animal Science BSc Hons at The University of Nottingham.

After graduating I got my first taste of R&D and innovation during an internship with a start-up focused on developing smart ear tags for livestock. I later joined CIEL (Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock), one of the four UK AgriTech Centres, helping to introduce ground-breaking technologies and processes into livestock production. My key areas of focus included surveying the funding/R&D landscapes and supporting bid applications.

This opened my eyes to the number of opportunities available and the range of fascinating work that is being done across the country. I also worked on multiple grant-funded and commercial projects.

Working within the Grants Team at TBAT, I enjoy getting stuck into bid applications and supporting clients on their R&D journey.

Outside of work, I can often be found walking my young collie or renovating our old cottage (both of which seem to be never-ending tasks!).