Biography

Biography

I completed the GRSC (Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry) at Paisley College of Technology (now University of the West of Scotland) in 1985 and went on to complete a PhD (1988) at the same institution under the supervision of Professor T. George Truscott involving the use of laser flash photolysis techniques to characterise the photochemistry and photophysics of photosensitisers for photodynamic therapy. 

Following postdoctoral positions at the University of Oxford (1988-1990) and Loughborough University (1990-1993), I was appointed Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at Keele University in 1993 and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999.  At Oxford I worked with Professor Mike Pilling and Professor Gus Hancock using flash photolysis techniques to investigate the gas-phase kinetics of reactions of interest in combustion chemistry before moving to Loughborough to work with Professor Frank Wilkinson on elucidating mechanisms of oxygen quenching of the excited states of organic molecules in solution.  At Keele, I have continued a mixture of basic and applied research in the general area of photophysics and photochemistry with a particular emphasis on the application of flash photolysis techniques to elucidate aspects of the free radical chemistry of carotenoids in the context of their reputed antioxidant properties within biological systems.

I have strong interests in teaching and have been particularly active in the design and assessment of laboratory practicals and practical classes, developing a variety of undergraduate experiments and approaches that combine real-world contexts and activities with the development of employability skills.  I have disseminated much of this work through talks at Universities throughout the UK and Ireland and through a number of publications.  More recently I have explored the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning with a particular focus on the use of digital audio for feedback on assessments and the use of screencasting for feedback and teaching.

In 2011 I received the Royal Society of Chemistry Higher Education Teaching Award:

Awarded in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to chemistry education at third level for over a decade, particularly his implementation and evaluation of innovative and carefully-designed teaching and assessment methods.

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School address

Lennard-Jones School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Lennard-Jones Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG, UK
Phone (School Office): +44 (0)1782 733033, (Chemistry): +44 (0)1782 731693, (Forensic Science): +44 (0)1782 731694, (Physics): +44 (0)1782 733527
Email: scps@keele.ac.uk

Information for schools and colleges

Contact us about our workshops and lecture series

Programme directors

Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Dr Tess Phillips
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733038
Email : t.r.phillips@keele.ac.uk

Dr Chris Hawes
Tel : +44 (0)1782 732820
Email : c.s.hawes@keele.ac.uk

Forensic Science and Criminology
Dr Jamie K. Pringle
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733163
Email : j.k.pringle@keele.ac.uk

Victoria Cartwright
Tel: +44 (0)1782733584
Email: v.cartwright@keele.ac.uk

Physics and Astrophysics
Dr Barry Smalley and Dr Joana Oliveira
Email : b.smalley@keele.ac.ukj.oliveira@keele.ac.uk

Admission tutors

Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Dr Natalie Capel
Tel : +44 (0)1782 733584
Email : n.j.capel@keele.ac.uk

Forensic Science
Sue Shemilt
Email: s.shemilt@keele.ac.uk

Physics and Astrophysics
Dr Juliana Morbec
Email : physics@keele.ac.uk or j.morbec@keele.ac.uk