We Met at King's - 'King's has truly been a cornerstone in our lives. Not only as the place where we met, but now as the place where I work.'

Many cups of tea and conversations later, and Rachel and Matteo’s relationship is still going strong. Matteo has since returned to his King’s roots to become a Lecturer in Forensic Chemistry, while Rachel works as a Science Writer at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

In October 2024, the couple welcomed their newborn, Alba, into the family. Here they tell us how it all began.

Why King’s?

Rachel: I’d always had a strong interest in forensic science. I did my undergraduate in chemistry at the University of Bristol, then I decided to pursue an MSc at King’s.

In September 2014, I entered the Franklin Wilkins building for the first time – the building that would become my second home over the next few years. My research project focused on improving the detection of trace concentrations of explosives. I enjoyed it and I decided I’d like to take it further. In 2016, after a year working in industry, I returned to King’s to start my PhD under the supervision of Dr Leon Barron. 

Matteo: I completed my studies in forensic science at the University of Lausanne and I began looking for a post-doctoral position.

My project was in gunshot residue analysis and I wanted to do something similar. I learned about Dr Leon Barron’s work in explosive residue analysis and I saw it as a perfect fit. I applied for a Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. This brought me to King’s in September 2016.

Unforgettable first impressions

Rachel: On my first day, I went to Leon’s office for my induction. He was telling me how the group had changed since my masters, explaining: 'We still have Bronagh and Tom, Kelly has just finished, and Vicky and Matteo are new to the group. Vicky is a BSc student from Germany and loves London. Matteo is a post-doc from Switzerland who doesn’t…'

At that point, the office door opened. Someone in a lab coat burst in, strode across to the computer against the furthest wall, leaned over the chair, exclaimed something in Italian and left the office again. Leon said: ‘That’s Matteo’. I immediately thought Matteo could be a lot of fun!

Later that day, I asked if anyone wanted a tea break. They all said ‘No’, except Matteo and Vicky. From that day, the three of us started to have ‘teatime’ every morning and afternoon.

Matteo: Admittedly, I wasn’t in the best mood the day I met Rachel as things in the lab weren’t going well. When I rushed into the office, swearing under my breath, I noticed this new girl sitting there. My first thought was: ‘Wow, she is cute’. I also realised I probably didn’t make the best first impression!

Later that day, I had the chance to speak to her. To my surprise, she didn’t seem at all bothered by my earlier behaviour. We started taking coffee breaks together and it became a regular part of our day. I had really missed having someone to share those moments with.

Teatimes, pub crawls and conversations

Rachel: ‘Teatime’ is a firm favourite memory of my time at King’s. When Vicky went back to Germany, Matteo and I continued teatime. We did the crossword in Metro and we always read the ‘Rush Hour Crush’ section. We went to the Southbank market every Friday lunchtime with the rest of the office and often went for a beer after work. We enjoyed doing pub crawls on a Friday evening. They were a great way to discover cool places in London.

I enjoyed showing Matteo the best of London at the weekends. I always knew he’d be up for doing something, including insisting we went to Winter Wonderland on opening night each year.

Matteo and I were also working on similar projects, so being able to help each other was valuable. We went to conferences together in Birmingham and Oxford, and we very quickly became inseparable. I felt lost when Matteo started as a lecturer at Northumbria in my second year. We were no more than friends at that point – although many in the department thought otherwise!

Matteo: I had a fantastic time with Rachel. We got along so well from the start. One of my favourite moments of the week was Friday afternoons. We often used to go on pub crawls, usually ending up in Shoreditch or attempting to get into the bar at The Shard, despite never quite meeting the dress code!

Those evenings were full of laughter, great conversations and adventure. They became a cherished tradition that added so much fun and spontaneity to our time at King’s. Collaborating in the lab and sharing ideas not only made the work more enjoyable, but it also established a strong bond between us.

Life in lockdown

Rachel: During my final year, Matteo and I had been together for two years, and we had been doing long-distance between London and Newcastle. I applied for an Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council fellowship for a two-year project at Newcastle University and I was accepted.

In March 2020, we went into lockdown. A few days before, I headed to Newcastle with a small suitcase and I went to stay with Matteo. I submitted my thesis in September, before starting my post-doctorate at Newcastle in October.

In July 2023, I was offered a position as Science Writer at NPL and we moved back to London.

On 3 October 2024, Matteo and I welcomed our daughter, Alba, to our family. We’re getting used to family life with a newborn and our beloved sausage dog, Peeble. We owe everything to meeting at King’s.

A significant step down south

Matteo: Although I enjoyed my time in Northumbria, the position wasn’t my dream job. A Lecturer in Forensic Chemistry role opened at King’s and, to my surprise and delight, I got it.

Returning to London was a significant step, bringing us closer together as a family.

King’s has truly been a cornerstone in our lives. Not only as the place where we met, but now as the place where I work. It’s remarkable to see how much our journey has been shaped by our time there.