People

Project Management Spotlight with Sophie Skinner

Can you describe your educational and career background?

I hold a degree in Forensic Science with a strong focus on analytical chemistry, which inspired me to begin my career as an Analytical Development Scientist at Quotient Sciences. In January 2022, I joined Upperton as a Senior Analytical Development Scientist, where I discovered a passion for client-facing work. This interest led me to transition into Project Management, a move fully supported by Upperton in January 2024. Since then, I have earned the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), which I apply daily to manage complex projects and deliver successful outcomes for clients.

Upperton emphasises scientific leadership. How does that influence your decision-making as a project manager?

Upperton’s emphasis on scientific leadership strongly shapes my decision-making as a project lead. As a project team we prioritize data-driven strategies, involve scientific experts early, and ensure rigor throughout the project lifecycle. My scientific background helps me contribute meaningfully to team discussions, supporting to bridge science and project strategy. This approach ensures our work aligns with both project objectives and the sponsor’s broader scientific goals.

Could you give an overview of your role?

I oversee projects from early development through to clinical manufacture. My responsibilities include invoicing, managing change orders, and ensuring timelines are met. Projects move through formulation development, before transitioning to technical transfer and clinical production. I coordinate handovers between R&D and technical teams, ensuring efficient transfer of knowledge and expertise. Regular communication with internal teams and clients helps me manage risks, implement changes, and keep projects on track.

We prioritize data-driven strategies, involve scientific experts early, and ensure rigor throughout the project lifecycle.

Sophie Skinner

Project Coordinator

How do you ensure communication across teams?

I establish regular internal project meetings and cross-functional updates, to keep everyone aligned on timelines, deliverables, and risks. I utilise project trackers and shared dashboards to maintain transparency with the leadership team. Upperton encourages an open, proactive approach to flagging issues early so we can resolve them collaboratively.

What do you enjoy most about working at Upperton?

I enjoy the collaborative environment and the variety of projects we support. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to work closely with cross-functional teams and clients, which keeps the role engaging and rewarding. There’s a strong focus on scientific excellence and a genuine commitment to delivering high-quality results.

What’s one of the most rewarding projects you’ve worked on?

One of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on started with me as the Senior Analytical Scientist conducting HPLC method development in the lab, and continued with me supporting project management activities. This allowed me to follow the project from early R&D through to Phase II clinical studies and gain a broader understanding of the full project lifecycle and overall goals—something I didn’t have visibility of in my previous lab role.