In 2011 Samantha obtained a 1st class MChem degree from the University of Liverpool, her masters research project was to develop a proof of principle electrochemical format to detect disease markers in blood. She continued to study for her PhD at the University of Liverpool under the joint supervision of Mathias Brust and Martin Volk. Her multidisciplinary thesis titled “Photodynamic and Photothermal Human Cancer Cell Killing using Gold Nanoparticles” allowed her to work across a number of departments including Chemistry, Physiology and Surface Science. In March 2016 Samantha joined the Rannard Group in the Nanomedicine Materials Team, to study and optimize nanoformulations of HIV drugs with improved bioavailability after oral administration.