Education
2017-2023 PhD
Royal Holloway University of London & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Biocultural collections and networks of knowledge exchange in the 19th century: the quest for quinine. AHRC TECHNE NPIF funded.
Supervisors: Felix Driver (RHUL) & Mark Nesbitt (RBG, Kew)
2014 MSc Herbal Medicine (Research) - Distinction
University of Westminster
Dissertation: History of the development of Eucalyptus spp. as a medicine 19th Century.
2009-2012 BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine 2:1
About Dr Kim Walker
I draw upon my research skills to create engaging accounts of the ways in which plants have shaped human history.
I focus on medicinal plants and have worked with coca/cocaine (Erythroxylum spp.), cinchona/quinine (Cinchona spp.) and the essential oils of Eucalyptus spp.
I am currently an Honorary Research Fellow at Royal Holloway and consultant at the Economic Botany Collection and the Antonelli Lab at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
I also run a foraging & herbal medicine business at www.handmadeapothecary.co.uk
As a working-class lass, I invite contact from others with a similar background who wish to move into historical research and academia. Cups of tea, advice and writing help are yours!
Awards
2020 Fortnum & Mason
Winner Debut Drink Book
2017 AHRC TECNHE
National Productivity investment Fund (NPIF) PhD Scholarship
2017 Martin Fellowship
Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
Selected career
Economic Botany Collection, Kew Gardens | Antonelli Lab
Researching the history of medicinal plant products: particularly Eucalyptus, Cinchona and Erythroxylon spp..
2014-present
Betonica School of Herbal Medicine
Director, teacher of botany, materials medical and writing skills.
2019-present