Mr Oliver Pattle

I am an STFC CASE industrial PhD student within AstrobiologyOU, collaborating with Airbus Defence and Space.

My research focuses on using real-time and near real-time analytical methods to better detect, monitor, and understand molecular contamination in spacecraft cleanrooms - with the aim of providing approaches that better support industry in meeting strict contamination control standards.

Contamination in spacecraft manufacturing cleanrooms poses a significant threat to sensitive hardware on board, damaging multi-million-dollar assets. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) outgassed from materials pose a big risk by migrating and creating thin molecular films on cold surfaces. Living organisms (microbes) and organic molecules from Earth can hitch a ride to other celestial bodies via spacecraft (forward contamination). This contamination can compromise the pristine enviornment and sustainability of the science conducted there, which is why these contaminates are controlled (planetary protection). The re-emission of VOCs brought along can lead to false-positive detections in mass spectrometers - not good.

Before starting my PhD, I conducted simulated microgravity research with Dr Rosa Santomartino at the UK Centre for Astrobiology in Edinburgh. I investigated the use of Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 to biodegrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics found in spacecraft Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets. This represented a novel approach as Ideonella sakaiensis had not been studied extensively under microgravity conditions before, or the degradation of space materials - showing suitability for In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) applications.

Background

2026 - present | The Open University / Airbus DS | PhD (AstrobiologyOU): "Development and validation of innovative, near real-time analytical tools to enable mitigation of contamination within cleanrooms of the UK spacecraft & satellite industry". - Dr Claire Batty, Dr Victoria Pearson, and Dr Graeme Poole

2023-24 | The University of Edinburgh | MSc Astrobiology & Planetary Sciences (UK Centre for Astrobiology): "Using Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 to biodegrade plastic (PET) found in Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) materials under simulated microgravity conditions". - Dr Rosa Santomartino

2022 | Quality Assurance | Graduate Trainee in Pharmaceutical QA | Application of laboratory techniques to maintain pharmaceutical compliance of niche medications.

2019-22 | Nottingham Trent University | BSc Biochemistry & Microbiology: "Analysing the effects of stress granules on TDP-43 protein aggregation in a neuronal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)".

Awards

STFC CASE Industrial PhD Studentship | OU / STFC / Airbus | 2026

ESA travel grant for training course in Human Space Physiology at ESEC-Galaxia | European Space Agency (ESA) | 2023 

Awarded Bernadette Walsh Prize for Academic Performance in Biosciences | 2022

Awarded an MBA Scholarship for Innovation in a STEM Technology & Innovation Challenge on reducing PM2.5 and PM10 particles in South Korea | 2020

Impact & Engagement

Artemis Fellow - Working with the space and satellite team at The University of Edinburgh on the creation of 'Edinburgh Space Hub' - highlighting Edinburgh's research and innovation related to space exploration | 2023

Representative for the first cohort in Astrobiology & Planetary Sciences MSc at Edinburgh University | 2023-24