Tilly obtained an MChem in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, followed by a PhD under the supervision of Professor Nicholas Turner at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB). Supported by CoEBio3, her doctoral research focused on the discovery and directed evolution of biocatalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines. Following her PhD, she joined the group of Dr Godwin Aleku as a PDRA, where her work focused on the engineering of reductive aminases (RedAms) for the sustainable production of enantiopure pharmaceutical intermediates.

In early 2026, Tilly joined the Wallace Lab at the University of Edinburgh as a PDRA within the Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub. Her current research focuses on the chemo-microbial upcycling of plastic waste into high-value chemical feedstocks. Her broader research interests lie in biocatalysis, strain engineering, and the integration of enzymes into synthetic organic chemistry.