I am a Technical Operations Manager with significant experience of managing at a senior level within a large diverse public sector environment supporting key stakeholders from research, teaching and commercial activities, through the development of cost recovery strategies, management of analytical and scheduling platforms, and open engagement processes. I have accumulated over 20 years experience in chemical research and crystallography. I created advanced materials analysis techniques pioneering and specialising in non-ambient chemical crystallography having spent five and half years running the world leading single crystal facility at the Synchrotron Radiation Source, Daresbury. To date I have co-authored over 150 papers co-supervised three successful PhD students and currently line manage 36 technical and experimental staff in two schools and four departments. I am an avid Linux user and founder of the xrayforum.co.uk website

John graduated in chemistry from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST, University of Manchester) in 1999 coming top of his year and winning several awards including The Royal Society Of Chemistry Prize for the Most Outstanding Student Graduating in Chemistry and obtained his PhD from the same university in 2003. He then joined Daresbury laboratory in Cheshire working on the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) - the world’s first synchrotron radiation facility dedicated for scientific research. He began working as a station scientist in the field of single crystal X-ray diffraction on Station 9.8 and brought online a second beamline 16.2 SMX. Over the five and half years running the world leading single crystal facility at the SRS he developed a wide network of collaborators, an international reputation in synchrotron SMX as well as creating advanced materials analysis techniques pioneering and specialising in non-ambient chemical crystallography. With the closure of the SRS in 2008 John moved on to several senior research associate posts first at the University of Bath - continuing his work in non-ambient techniques whilst also lecturing 'Atmospheric Environmental & Nuclear Chemistry'. Then to a senior research associate post at the University of Liverpool working in the area of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous materials.

John's interests cover a wide range of research fields from pharmaceutical/crystal engineering, materials, technology, environmental and energy sciences. He is passionate about the development of “hyphenated” techniques – in situ diffraction experiments which combine with the ability to change the crystals environment dynamically be that temperature, atmosphere, pressure or to expose a crystal to external stimulus, lasers, magnetic fields or electricity. “Through which we can develop a better understanding of the atomic structure and the relation to the macro-properties to build better materials and systems”.
He is an avid Linux user, founder of the xrayforum.co.uk and keen outreach ambassador.

X-ray diffraction

Non-ambient crystallography

In situ diffraction experiments which combine with the ability to change the crystals environment dynamically be that temperature, atmosphere, pressure or to expose a crystal to external stimulus, lasers, magnetic fields or electricity.

Pharmaceutical/crystal engineering, materials, technology, environmental and energy sciences

Data analysis and management

From automation of analysis to developing standardisation of structural characterisation.

Professional Bodies

• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Member of the Institute of Science and Technology

Committees and Special Interest Groups

• Material Resource Management Group