With my research team and collaborators, I am interested in development of novel approaches towards measurement.

My research has been focused on the development of tools and resources that can study biological signalling molecules that play key roles in influencing the central nervous system and periphery. Such sensor devices offer advantages over other analytical approaches and biochemical assays, as they can study signalling in real-time from live cells/tissues. We have utilised our electrode devices to understand how transmitters change with age in the central and enteric nervous system. 

Another area that we have applied our approaches to is in the monitoring of the efficacy of drug administation to hypotensive babies. At present pharmaceutical drugs are regulated as manufactured, but often require dilution on the ward to obtain a suitable dose for the baby. This diluted drug is not as well regulated and little is known about its stability in various ward conditions. Our work focused on monitoring of drug concentrations to understand how these changes might impact the development of baby.

Finally, we have been interested in enhancing the student learning experience and providing educational activities that can be utilised to enhance student employability. We have developed novel learning and teaching approaches using electronic technologies that have had impact in the classroom and laboratory classes. 

I teach on a wide range of courses including BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical & Chemical Sciences, BSc (Hons) and MChem Chemistry and MPharm Pharmacy. I also teach on postgraduate degrees and am acting as the placement tutor for chemistry based degrees.

My teaching is predominately focused on analytical chemistry, leaning toward approaches in measurement of chemical entities in biological environments and the regulatory considerations required for approval of a new pharmaceutical drug.

When teaching I use blended learning approaches which focus on utilising a range of electronic learning resources and face-to-face workshops that apply the theory. This approach provides the scope for flexible learning and provides significant opportunities for active participation.

My learning approaches have been shown to make significant impact on student learning as I was awarded the Student Union Excellence Award for Innovative teaching in 2015 and Inclusive Practice in 2021 and the Excellence in Facilitating/Empowering Learning Award in 2012 and 2017. In 2021 I was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Excellence in Higher Education Award and in 2022 I recieved a National Teaching Fellowship.

My supervisory interests are:

• Development of composite electrodes for bioanalytical monitoring;
• Exploring the signalling mechanisms of the bowel and bladder epithelium
• Development of innovative e-learning tools

I graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences at the University of Brighton in 2002, which sparked my interest in analytical chemistry and its application in measurement in biology. From this I moved to Imperial College London to undertake a PhD in the field of Bioengineering under the guidance of Dr Danny O’Hare and Dr Mark Yeoman (University of Brighton). My work focused on understand the changes in signalling during ageing from an individual neuron from the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis.

Shortly after my PhD, I was fortunate to win an EPSRC Overseas LifeSciences Interface fellowship to focus on the development of analytical devices to study the formation of synapses between neurons. Most of the fellowship had to be conducted outside the UK and I was fortunate to spend approximately two years in the laboratories of Professor Greg Swain (Michigan State University, USA), Professor Mark Wightman (University of North Carolina, USA) and Professor Naweed Syed (University of Calgary, Canada). It was during my stay at these leading research institutes that I was exposed to the challenges of measurement within the digestive tract and began collaborations with Professor James Galligan (Michigan State University) and Professor Keith Sharkey (University of Calgary).

I joined the University of Brighton as a Lecturer in 2010 and moved up the ranks to the position of Professor in 2019.