Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in the fields of…
- Polymer synthesis using advanced polymerisation techniques
- Well-defined polymeric nanostructures
- Amphiphilic block copolymer self-assembly
- Degradable polymers
- Hydrogels
- Biomaterials
- Polymer-protein interactions
- Polymer biomedical applications
- Polymeric pharmaceutical formulations
- Polymeric matrices for tissue engineering
Public outreach & key achievements
- Named as Polymer Chemistry Emerging Investigator 2020
- Participated in two KTP projects (Kilwaughter Chemical Co Ltd and MOF Technologies)
- Received Royal Society of Chemistry funding 2022
Research students
| PhD area |
Optimisation of soft transducer layer ligation chemistries on gold surfaces for LSPR biosensing (in collaboration with Dr Robert J Pollard and Causeway Sensors Ltd) |
| Name | Emma Crothers |
| Years of study | 2022-present |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| PhD area | Functionalised biocompatible block copolymer particles and fibres produced by electrospraying/electrospinning for biomedical applications |
| Name | Nichola Devlin |
| Years of study | 2019-present |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
Alumni: Where are they now
| PhD area |
Biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles for drug/DNA delivery using biologically friendly polymerisation processes |
| Name | Gavin Irvine |
| Years of study | 2017-2022 |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Current position | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Bath |
| PhD area | Novel functionalised biodegradable polymeric micro- and nano-structures for tissue engineering and drug delivery |
| Name | Marie Finnegan |
| Years of study | 2015-2020 |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Current position | Almac Group, Northern Ireland |
| PhD area | Well-defined pH-responsive polymeric nanostructures for biomedical applications |
| Name | Thomas Gibson |
| Years of study | 2014-2018 |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Current position | Research Development Manager (Engineering and Physical Sciences), Queen's University Belfast |