Eleanor Binner
Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
I joined the faculty of engineering in 2011 as a postdoctoral research fellow and took on an academic position within the chemical and environmental engineering department in 2014. I am in the research and teaching job family, and as such balance research, teaching and support roles.
Shortly after I joined the university, I became pregnant. At the time I was working in an industrial microwave processing lab, and my line manager immediately changed my role to be more desk-based, limiting my laboratory activity to prevent exposure to potentially hazardous situations.
Once my twins were born, I wanted to resume work as quickly as possible while also spending as much time as possible with my children. I was able to negotiate a part time contract with the university, which meant that I was indeed able to have a family and progress my career at the same time.