2013-present: Reader in Chemistry

2013-2018: Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Awardee

2009 - 2013: EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellow, The University of Manchester

2005 - 2008: Leverhulme Trust Postdoctoral Research Associate, The University of Manchester, with Professor Stephen Faulkner

2003 - 2004: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, CEA, Grenoble, France, with Dr Marinella Mazzanti

1999 - 2003: Ph.D Inorganic Chemistry, The University of Nottingham, with Dr Polly Arnold

1995 - 1999: MChem in Chemistry, The University of York

My research interests lie in the area of coordination chemistry and spectroscopy of the f-elements. Current research in the group centres on the development of an understanding of the chemistry and electronic properties of the actinide ions in unusual oxidation states. We are particularly interested in developing and using time resolved luminescence spectroscopy of the actinides in combination with NMR spectroscopy as a tool with which to understand solution structure, speciation and disproportionation mechanisms in complexes where the metal ion is in an unusual or less common oxidation state, such as uranyl(V).

This can be broken down into two main objectives:

THE IDENTIFICATION OF METHODS THAT CAN BE USED TO STABILISE AND ISOLATE UNSTABLE OXIDATION STATES IN THE ACTINIDE SERIES
EXPLOITATION OF THESE METHODS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS FOR PREDICTING AND MONITORING SPECIATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY USING LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

My other research interests include developing an understanding of the photophysical properties of multimetallic macrocyclic lanthanide complexes; these have potential use as luminescent probes in biomedical imaging applications; this includes one and two photon processes in lanthanide and transition metal systems.

Current research projects:

• Luminescence spectroscopy of the actinides and actinyls
• Coordination and redox chemistry of actinyls in unusual oxidation states
• Oxidation chemistry of the actinides
• Luminescent probes for detection of trace actinides in solution
• Two photon spectroscopy of platinum group metal based dyes

• Catalysis
• Crystallography and structure determination
• Electrochemistry
• Energy and Environment
• Environmental radiochemistry
• Environmental remediation
• Inorganic Synthesis
• Materials Characterization
• Nanotechnology
• Nuclear energy
• Nuclear research
• Organic Synthesis
• Radiochemistry
• Solar energy
• Spectroscopy
• Supramolecular chemistry
• Synthesis