Research Development Manager 2014 - present
Research and Knowledge Transfer Support
The University of Bradford
As Research Development Manager in RKTS at the University of Bradford, my role encompasses the development of research bids for the UK Research Councils, Charities, the EU and other public funders. I support a small team of Research Officers, working with the Head of Research Support to provide enhanced guidance and support to the 600 strong academic communities at Bradford. We have a strong direction to enhance research success at Bradford, and one of my major roles is the development of cross-faculty bids, taking into account the core research themes of Sustainable Communities, Innovative Engineering and Advanced Healthcare.
I am also responsible for a number of projects, including the introduction of ResearchFish to Bradford academic staff – where we returned a 100% record on submissions; the UK average for 2014 was ~85% submission completion. I am working with IT services to implement a Data Management Policy across the University and am developing strategic objectives designed to improve the support available to academic colleagues. I am financially competent and have developed an understanding of the research funding environment in order to maximize value-for-money in research bids and am working with the university accountants to develop strategic models to support research bid development.
Additionally, I have recently been invited to join the EPSRC Peer Review College, I regularly review grant applications for the EPSRC and have also reviewed grant applications for UKIERI.
I also review publications for the Elsevier Chemical Engineering Journal and a number of other academic journals.
Business Development Manager / STFC IPS Fellow 2013 - 2014
Sheffield Scientific Gateway / School of Physics and Astronomy
The University of Sheffield.
As Business Development Manager for the Sheffield Science Gateway and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, I was involved with the development of collaborative research and industrial liaison activities to maximize the impact of academic research. I have developed a comprehensive profile of academic research within the department and use this to identify appropriate collaborative research and Knowledge Exchange activities with external partners, develop cross-faculty engagement and work towards the delivery of Impact from RCUK funded research.
A large part of my role involved the development of research funding applications, working alongside academic staff to ensure maximum success rates for a wide range of funding opportunities, with examples of these detailed below. I developed an ever-expanding network of contacts, through the use of a wide range of networking activities, sat on the Physics and Astronomy Research Committee and was invited to attend a NERC review panel for Technology Proof of Concept awards.
I was heavily involved in the development of impact in relation to the REF assessments, and ran a workshop concerned with ways for academics to engage with government, as a method of influencing policy and establishing key indicators for Impact in preparation for the REF submission.
Lecturer and Senior Research Scientist 2011 – 2013
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science,
The University of Manchester
As a lecturer in chemical and petroleum engineering, I delivered taught courses, managed the delivery of the Enquiry Based Learning activities of the school, ran laboratory courses, supervised fieldwork in Aberdeen and engaged in Pastoral care for new students. I was responsible for the allocation of all 60 TA’s across the entire school curriculum (UGT & PGT), including the development of a new budgeting structure for TA allocation and generated extensive promotional material and free-standing poster displays during the opening of the James Chadwick Building.
My research activities focused on the use of heterogeneous catalysts for waste recycling and Biodiesel production, and I also developed a combined educational and pilot plant system addressing green energy issues and recycling within the University and the School using Waste Vegetable Oil. This project, Biodiesel Production – Engineering a Greener Future, was designed to integrate production, testing and sustainability into the taught curriculum, alongside the pilot plant process to provide fuel for university vehicles. This project was shortlisted for the IChemE Education and Training Award 2013.
I supervised a number of research students, (3 x M.Eng, 2 x M.Sc. & 4 x Ph.D.), applied for and received a fully funded PhD studentship from the University’s Presidents Fund, and developed funding streams in Biodiesel production and graphene scale-up technologies. I was heavily involved in industrial liaison and was co-ordinating the generation of IP in conjunction with the University IP Management organization.
• Project management of Environmental Catalysis Research
• Lecturer – Petroleum Engineering
• Lecturer – Chemical Engineering
• Manager of CEAS EBL Courses
• Coordination and Budgeting of Teaching Assistants
• Supervision of PGR students (M.Eng, M.Sc and PhD).
• Supervision of Year In Industry M.Eng Students
• Industrial Liaison,
• Document proof-reading –
⁃ PhD, M.Sc & M.Eng thesis in Process Instrumentation and Catalysts
Research Fellow, 2009 - 2011
The Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB.
The main research project was concerned with the use of impedance as a sensitive technique for cardiac biomarker detection, and a prototype portable system was completed which was demonstrated to industry. Additionally, I ran a school based project to develop an assisted living system, supervised twenty-six work experience students and five research students, developed LabVIEW software for a CCD camera incorporating Bluetooth data streaming, lectured extensively, published a number of articles including two peer-reviewed papers and provided video-capture facilities for colleagues.
• Project Management of Microfluidic Platform Technology
• Development of Point-of-Care cardiac biomarker / medical diagnostics devices,
• Clean-room processing, photolithography, and rapid prototyping,
• Computer aided design (SolidEdge & AutoCAD), video imaging and analysis,
• Research grant development and submission (3),
• Preparation and submission of peer reviewed research journal articles and other publications (6),
• Presentation of research material at conferences (3)
• Shortlisted for EPSRC NOISE Scheme 2010
• Lecturing of LabVIEW Graphical Programming - cohort of 60 students,
• Lecturing of Solidedge - cohort of 200 students.
• Lecturing of Microsoft Excel - cohort of 200 students.
• Management of work experience program (26 high school students),
• Development of assisted living / wireless communication - schools based engineering project
• Development of outreach and widening participation activities (2),
• Supervision of student research and design (R&D) projects (5)
• Provided video and animation facilities for research projects, including:-
⁃ Origami Videos
⁃ LEGO Work Experience Project
⁃ Point of Care Concept
⁃ Prototype Point of Care Device
Senior Research Scientist, 2008 - 2009
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science,
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The main research project was concerned with the development of a multiphase microdroplet system, with integrated optical detection using which was of interest to agrochemical and pharmaceutical research teams for product development. Additionally, I developed links with the LEGO Company that led to a research grant submission to the EPSRC in 2010, and developed training guides to aid the manufacture of polymer microfluidic devices.
• Development of two-phase microdroplet system – AZ / Syngenta Collaboration
• Instrument Development, Video Imaging and Analysis,
• Computer Aided Design and Manufacture (CAD/CAM),
• Development of Training guides and user support manuals,
• Computer and facilities support,
• Project Management and reporting,
• Industrial Liaison.
Senior Research Scientist, 2007 - 2008
Syngenta Sensors UIC / School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The main research project was concerned with the development of a miniaturized amylase bioreactor and assay instrument that was demonstrated as delivering a ten-fold increase in sensitivity and a six-fold decrease in assay incubation time. Additionally, I supervised three research students, presented a paper at a local conference and developed a research application to the EPSRC.
• Microfluidic Bioassay Development – Research paper published in 2009.
• Instrument Development, technical writing and design specifications.
• Research Student Support (3)
• Project management and reporting,
• Submission of PhD Studentship Application to RSC/EPSRC (Unsuccessful)
• Presentation of research material at a national conference (1)
Honorary Lecturer 2005 - 2009
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science,
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The main objectives for this role were two-fold, to enhance my skills set by engaging with undergraduate students and teaching core chemical engineering subjects, and also to develop my place as a core member of staff in the school. I requested allocation of timetabled activities and also enrolled on a Postgraduate Certificate in Education to assist my progress.
• Lecturer in Organic Chemistry for Chemical Engineers (Year 1) – total cohort of 24 students.
◆ Design and implementation of 12 lecture series.
◆ Introduction of chemical drawing activities.
◆ Preparation & implementation of formative and summative assessment.
• Joint lecturer in Systems Measurement and Optimisation (Year 2) – total cohort of 200
◆ Design and implementation of 12 lectures in a 24 lecture series.
◆ Development of novel teaching material including the use of YouTube videos, electronic voting systems (EVS) and robotics,
◆ Use of the Blackboard E-learning environment including discussion boards for feedback,
◆ Supervision of teaching assistants (4),
◆ Preparation & implementation of formative and summative assessment.
Educational Development Officer/Manager of Enquiry Based Learning 2006 - 2007
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science,
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The main objective for this role was the provision of Enquiry Based Learning Resources in the School for a period of twelve months. This included management of the staffing allocation and coordinated with academic staff in order to ensure all learning objectives were achieved, generation of reports to school and teaching boards, and timetable management of all teaching assistant activity within the school.
• Project management and reporting,
• Student management and supervision – cohorts of 180 & 220 respectively,
• Teaching Assistant supervision and coordination (45),
• Staff development,
• Facilities and timetabling management,
• Financial accountability.
Research Scientist (Post Doctoral) 2001 - 2006
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, 2004 - 2006
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Science, 2001 - 2004
UMIST, Sackville Street, Manchester, M60 1QD, UK
The major research objectives during this period were the development of a microfluidic system for Scanning Near-field Microscopy, development of integrated optical detectors for polymer microfluidic systems, development of an ultrasonic standing-wave particle manipulation system, and electrochemical analysis and characterization of microelectrodes.
• CAD/CAM development of polymer microfluidic devices
• Facilities management and implementation of Microscopy Suite,
• Supervision of Research Students and Masters Projects,
• Project Management and Reporting,
• Preparation and submission of research journal articles and other publications (6),
• Presentation of research material at national and international conferences (7)
Laboratory Demonstrator - M.Sc Course 1997 - 2001
Department of Instrumentation and Analytical Science,
UMIST, Sackville Street, Manchester, M60 1QD, UK.
The major objectives during this period were the development of High Performance Liquid Chromatography experiments and the supervision of both this and Dropping Mercury Electrochemical analysis. Assessment of masters student performance and liaison with academic and technical staff also formed a major part of the role.
Research Assistant Summer 1995 & 1996
School of Applied Sciences, Staffordshire University, Mellor Building, College Road, ST4 1DE, UK
The major research objectives during this period were :-
• The development of Coal Liquifaction technology
⁃ Literature review,
⁃ Experimental work,
⁃ Data analysis / presentation,
• Air sampling for Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon analysis.
⁃ Literature review,
⁃ Experimental work,
⁃ Data analysis / presentation,
Midlands Co-operative, Eccleshall, Staffs, 1991 - 1997
• Customer relations,
• Staff management,
• Retail and general sales,
• Cash handling, payment processing,
• Stock control and stocktaking,
• Manual handling,
• Waste management and theft prevention.