Dr Lewis MacKenzie
Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Personal statement
Group website: www.mackenzie-lab.org
Dr Lewis E. MacKenzie is a Chancellor's Fellow in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, leading a small highly-focused interdisciplinary research team. The team’s research focuses on the development of nanosensors for biosensing, with a current focus on non-invasive measurement of blood and tissue oxygenation. The end-goal of this research is to improve the efficiency quality of hypoxia measurements in biomedical research. Dr MacKenzie is also interested in biophotonics, imaging, spectroscopy, microscopy, circularly polarised luminescence for chiral molecules, optical instrumentation, and science communication. Dr MacKenzie can offer project opportunities for masters-level and PhD students. Please email directly for details.
Career Timeline:
2021 onwards: Chancellor’s Fellow (Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde).
2020 – 2023: BBSRC Discovery Fellow (initially hosted by the Pal group at Durham, then as independent group leader at Strathclyde from 2021 onwards).
2017 – 2020: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Pal group, Department of Chemistry, Durham University).
2016 – 2017: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Millner BioNanoTechnology Group, School of Biomedical Science, University of Leeds).
2012 – 2016: PhD Researcher (Imaging Concepts Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow)
Area of Expertise
Upconversion nanoparticles, nanosensors, biophotonics, blood oximetry, tissue optics, imaging, optical instrumentation, spectroscopy, chiral spectroscopy, circularly polarised luminescence (CPL), science communication and new media.
Prize And Awards
- IOP 3 Minute Wonder UK Grand Final
- Recipient
- 17/5/2022
- Postgraduate Course in Science Communication. Invited lecture.
- Recipient
- 9/2020
- Institute of Physics, 3 Minute Wonder, North East England Heat Winner
- Recipient
- 11/2019
- ‘ACTION for Impact’ Pitch Competition Runner Up.
- Recipient
- 2019
- BBSRC Discovery Fellowship
- Recipient
- 2019
- Famelab UK finalist
- Recipient
- 2015
Qualifications
Ph.D. 2016. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow. Thesis title: 'In vivo oximetry using multispectral imaging'. Supervisor: Prof. Andy Harvey.
M.Sc. Astrophysics. 2012. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow.
B.Sc. (Hons). Physics and Astronomy. 2011. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow.
Publications
- Analysis of over 1,600 chemistry YouTube channels from 2005 to 2023
- Gardner Scott, Bezati Gabriela, Godfrey Tristen, Baird Katie, Bilal Usamah, Loudon Emma, Young Rhona, MacKenzie Lewis E
- Royal Society Open Science (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241599
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles affect the mitochondrial efficiency of human brain vascular pericytes without inducing oxidative stress
- Gettings Sean M, Timbury William, Dmochowska Anna, Sharma Riddhi, McGonigle Rebecca, MacKenzie Lewis E, Miquelard-Garnier Guillaume, Bourbia Nora
- NanoImpact Vol 34 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2024.100508
- Keeping it simple? Straight-forward synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles : under-studied methods and high-safety autoclave synthesis
- MacKenzie Lewis
- Materials Challenges in Alternative & Renewable Energy (MCARE) (2023)
- Reflections on a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship (2020 – 2023)
- MacKenzie Lewis
- BBSRC Fellows Annual Conference (2023)
- Influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in the synthesis of luminescent NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles
- Birch Ross, Bruckbauer Jochen, Gajewska Marta, Cios Grzegorz, Pal Robert, MacKenzie Lewis E
- Methods and Applications in Fluorescence Vol 11 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1088/2050-6120/acd837
- Synthesis and structural diversification of circularly polarised luminescence active, helically chiral, "confused" N,N,O,C‐BODIPYs**
- Clarke Rebecca G, Weatherston Jake, Taj-Aldeen Rafid A, Waddell Paul G, McFarlane William, Penfold Thomas J, Bogaerts Jonathan, MacKenzie Lewis E, Herrebout Wouter, Pal Robert, Hall Michael J
- ChemPhotoChem (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cptc.202200194
Teaching
Dr MacKenzie currently teaches CH213 'Handling Chemical Data and Mathematics' as part of the level 2 undergraduate Chemistry curriculum.
Research Interests
The MacKenzie NanoBioPhotonics group currently focus on these interdisciplinary research themes:
- Upconversion nanoparticles: synthesis, design, and functionalization.
- Nanobiosensing: oxygen measurement in blood, cells, and tissue.
- Applied optics: imaging and spectroscopy
- Quantitative science communication: science podcast and chemistry YouTube channels
For a detailed breakdown, please visit:
https://mackenzie-lab.org/research-areas
Professional Activities
- Interview for Chemical and Engineering News Article (USA)
- Interviewee
- 4/9/2024
- Interview for Chemistry World Magazine Article (UK)
- Interviewee
- 30/8/2024
- M.Chem. viva examinations
- Examiner
- 2024
- Examination of M.Chem. theses
- Examiner
- 2024
- Keeping it simple? Straight-forward synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles: under-studied methods and high-safety autoclave synthesis
- Speaker
- 23/8/2023
- Reflections on a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship (2020 – 2023)
- Speaker
- 29/6/2023
Projects
- EPSRC Core Equipment Maintenance Award: CD
- Chow, Shiao (Principal Investigator) Edkins, Robert (Principal Investigator) MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- £12,576
- 13-Jan-2024 - 12-Jan-2025
- "Hand shaking" hybrid nanoparticles to generate light for advanced 3D displays and security patterns
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025
- Versatile high-capacity high-speed benchtop centrifuge for multiple users
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- a modern high speed refrigerated centrifuge with interchangeable carbon fibre rotors (up to 15 year lifespan) to provide for a wide variety of users applications, including 50 mL conical tubes, 15 mL conical tubes, 1.5 -2 mL Eppendorf tubes, and multi-well microplates. Max relative centrifugal force (RCF) up to 25,830 times gravity (Xg). Includes touch screen controls, quick rotor change features, self-diagnostic features, energy saving design, and advanced ergonomic features to meet the needs of multiple users.
- 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2023
- Functional nanoparticle constructs for biosensing: optimised core synthesis, mesoporous shell formation, and dye-loading.
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- E21-5833576777
- 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2023
- Functional nanoparticle constructs for biosensing: optimised core synthesis, mesoporous shell formation, and dye-loading (Research Enablement Grant)
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2023
- EPSRC IAA: Recombinant protein for advanced nanoparticle biosensors
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2025
Contact
Dr
Lewis
MacKenzie
Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Email: l.mackenzie@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 7069