Kemp Porter

About Benji

Hello! I’m Benji, the Warden on C15. Originally from the tiny European island of Malta, I have a background in Biology and Chemistry. I completed my PhD in Chemistry here at Imperial, and I’m now a Physical Chemistry Teaching Fellow in the Department of Chemistry. I’ve been a part of the Warden team at KP for a few years, and I’m dedicated to ensuring our community is welcoming and supportive for all residents. In my free time, you’ll likely find me enjoying a good book, sipping on a cup of tea, or heading out for a long hike—ideally all in the same day! 

About Sijia

Hi everyone and welcome to Kemp Porter Buildings, one of the biggest halls at Imperial! I am Sijia, one of your wardens here. Along with Benji and our assistant warden Nav, we oversee the wardening team and hall seniors to ensure a safe and inclusive environment. During your stay, the wardening team will try our best to provide you with support in not only social activities, but also in pastoral and welfare. 

This is my 12th year at Imperial. During daytime, I carry out research on liver cances at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences. When I am not working, I enjoy reading about history, watching movies and seal engraving – a  type of traditional art originated from China. Looking forward to meeting you all and I am happy to have a chat with you, whether it’s about accommodation, work or anything you fancy! 

About Navraj

Hey everyone, I’m Navraj. Many congratulations on getting into Imperial and welcome to KP! I’ve been studying at Imperial for the past 8 years and clearly couldn’t bare the idea of leaving, so I’m now working as a researcher in the MechEng department. If you have any questions about Imperial or MechEng in general, I’d be happy to help. Outside of work, I’m a big Newcastle football fan (I was born there – I promise I’m not a glory supporter) and also enjoy going to the gym and hiking. See you all soon. 

About Katya

Hi all, welcome to KP! I’m Katya, the subwarden on C22. I am originally from Belarus, but I have lived in the UK since I was small. I have been at Imperial for over six (!) years, having done my undergrad here in Aeronautics and I also worked at the 10×5 Wind Tunnel on South Ken campus. I’m in my second year of my PhD in the Aeronautics department, running cool experiments to study flapping flight (think: birds, robots, lasers). When I am not in the wind tunnel you can find me on the Picadilly line heading to Harlington to play hockey, ankle deep in mud during Wormwood scrubs parkrun on a Saturday morning, or planning events for you lot in KP! I hope you have a fantastic year with us, come and introduce yourself and tell me where you’re from! 

About Shuwei

Hi, I’m Shuwei and I am originally from China. I am now a third-year PhD candidate in Chemistry and also a subwarden living on B6. When I’m not working, I enjoy making music and exploring the city. Hope you have a fantastic year staying at Kemp Porter, and hope to see everyone of you soon at our events! 

About Hamish

Hi I’m Hamish, a final year PhD student within the Department of Chemistry. My research focuses on experimental and computational approaches to studying photoswitches. This is my fourth year as a subwarden at Kemp Porter, so feel free to ask any questions you have about life at Imperial. I enjoy running, good coffee and I’m always up for a chat. I’m sure you’ll love it here and I look forward to meeting you all soon! 

About Catherine

Hi, I’m Catherine and I’ll be the sub-warden on C26 this year. My PhD is within the Mechanical Engineering Department, and I research how lithium-ion batteries degrade in extreme cold temperatures. I also did my undergraduate in mechanical engineering at Imperial too. When I’m not putting batteries in a freezer, I enjoy dancing and baking. Looking forwards to getting to know you all and hope you have a wonderful year at KP. 

About Ella

Hello and welcome to KP! My name is Ella, and I am a sub-warden on C10 this year. I am originally from Aberdeen and proudly Scottish but have spent the last 5 years living in London. I am a second year PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and my current research is looking at how we can analyse wastewater surveillance of pathogens to predict outbreaks. After completing my BSc in Medical Biosciences at Imperial, I went to LSHTM to do an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases. Outside of PhD life I enjoy running and rock climbing. If you see me around, please say hello! 

About Ricky

Hi Everyone! I’m Ricky, a Sub-Warden on C4. I’m currently a PhD Candidate within the Department of Surgery and Cancer researching clinical patient safety, after completing my undergraduate studies in Hungary and Master’s in Switzerland. I grew up in Sweden and England and I’m an avid football fan (+ player!) following Leicester City, alongside many other sports. Having pursued my studies in and moved around several countries, I can relate to those of you whom may be struggling to settle in, so do give me a shout if we can help support you in any way. 

About Marianna

Hey everyone! I am Marianna, one of the newest sub wardens in C block. I am currently doing a PhD on road safety at the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I love to uncover London’s hidden gems, so do tell me about any new discoveries you’ve made. I also enjoy going to the theatre and to comedy show. Hope you enjoy your year at KP. It’s gonna be a great one.

About Ben D.

Welcome to Kemp Porter and congratulations for getting into Imperial! I’m Ben, the subwarden on C12. This year will be my third as a PhD student, and my 7 ^th  overall at Imperial. I study high energy density physics within the Plasma group of the Physics department so if you’re studying Physics this year or you are just interested, please feel free to ask me about it. Outside of academics I like to go to the gym and play as much sport as possible. Best of luck with the following year, I hope you enjoy it and let us know if there is anything we can do to help! 

About Ben D.

Hello, welcome to Kemp Porter! My name is Ed, and I’m one of the sub-wardens here at Kemp Porter. I’m currently in the second year of my PhD where I investigate the theory of quantum optics. Outside of my studies, I’m really passionate about sports, particularly triathlon. Whether you’re into sports, academics, or just looking to have a great time, I hope your experience here is as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible. We’re here to support you, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything! 

About Ding

Hi everyone, I’m Ding Ding, the Sub Warden in B3. A warm welcome to KP! I completed my MSci in Chemistry at Imperial and am now a first-year PhD student studying crystal materials, focusing on light detection and conversion. I’m a huge fan of cooking and frequently go to the gym to stay balanced. I understand that starting a new journey can be challenging, so please feel free to say hello and let me know if there’s anything we can help with. I look forward to meeting you all at the events! 

About Helen

Hello! I’m Helen, a new sub-warden on B8. I’m a second year PhD student based in the Department of Brain Sciences over at White City. I’m from Vancouver, Canada and grew up in Hong Kong. I’ve been in London for the last six years after completing my undergraduate studies in Montréal. Dexterity is not my strength, so while I enjoy non-reaction time-based activities (e.g. yoga, spinning, dancing, or hiking), I do also really like games – so let me know if you’re ever wanting help planning a board game night or a murder mystery party. Best of luck with the upcoming academic year to you all, excited to hear how it’s going.