Personal statement
Alastair Wark started his career with a BSc in Applied Chemistry in 1996 at the University of Strathclyde. He completed his PhD research in 2000 under the joint supervision of Dr Len Berlouis and Dr Frank Cruikshank at Strathclyde and also working with Prof. Pierre-Francois Brevet at the EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Following post-doctoral research at EPFL he was awarded a Lindemann Trust Fellowship in 2001and joined the laboratories of Prof. Rob Corn at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After moving across to the University of California-Irvine with Rob’s group and a Project Scientist position, Alastair returned to the Chemistry Department in late 2007 as a Lecturer in Nanometrology.
Research interests
My research focus is based around the synthesis, functionalization and analytical applications of novel nanomaterials alongside the development of techniques capable of optically imaging and tracking single nanoparticles and molecules. The advantages of these materials for nanometrology and bioanalytical science is that optical measurements can be performed to monitor biomolecular interactions in real-time. As well as developing robust methodologies for ultrasensitive bioaffinity detection at target concentrations approaching just a few molecules, we are also exploring the use of multimodal imaging techniques for monitoring nanoparticle-cellular interactions. This involves developing hybrid nanostructures which can be used for tackling research challenges requiring dynamic measurements in complex biological environments. Consequently, my research is highly multidisciplinary and I have enjoyed successfully collaborating with researchers from across the biology, physics, engineering and medicine research fields.
Professional activities
- West of Scotland Meeting for Teachers of Chemistry 23rd
- Organiser
- 16/1/2023
- 22nd West of Scotland Meeting for Teachers of Chemistry
- Organiser
- 13/5/2022
- Practical CLPL at Strathclyde: past, present, and future
- Speaker
- 13/1/2022
- PhD External Examiner University of Glasgow
- External Examiner
- 6/2021
- PittCon 2021
- Participant
- 2021
- University of Portsmouth IBBS Departmental Seminar
- Invited speaker
- 9/2020
More professional activities
Projects
- Commonwealth split-site PhD fellowship
- Wark, Alastair (Principal Investigator) Anjali, A (Post Grad Student)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2023
- Doctoral Training Partnership 2020-2021 University of Strathclyde | Taysum, Hannah
- Wark, Alastair (Principal Investigator) Hoskins, Clare (Co-investigator) Taysum, Hannah (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2021 - 01-Jan-2025
- Commonwealth split-site studentship
- Wark, Alastair (Principal Investigator) Chauhan, Pooja (Post Grad Student) Rolinski, Olaf (Academic)
- 22-Jan-2021 - 01-Jan-2022
- NPL contribution to PhD studentship Delali Boccorh
- Wark, Alastair (Principal Investigator)
- Nanoparticle reporters for highly localized ion and pH profiling on skin and porous surfaces
- 01-Jan-2017 - 30-Jan-2021
- Nanoanalysis for Advanced Materials and Healthcare - EPSRC strategic equipment
- Martin, Robert (Principal Investigator) Edwards, Paul (Co-investigator) Faulds, Karen (Co-investigator) Florence, Alastair (Co-investigator) Graham, Duncan (Co-investigator) Sefcik, Jan (Co-investigator) Ter Horst, Joop (Co-investigator) Trager-Cowan, Carol (Co-investigator) Uttamchandani, Deepak (Co-investigator) Wark, Alastair (Co-investigator)
- This proposal seeks funding to deliver enhanced capability for characterising and assessing advanced nanomaterials using three complementary, leading edge techniques: Field-emission microprobe (EPMA), combined Raman/multiphoton confocal microscope (Raman/MP) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This suite of equipment will be used to generate a step-change in nanoanalysis capability for a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who together form a key part of Strathclyde's new Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC). The equipment will support an extensive research portfolio with an emphasis on functional materials and healthcare applications. The requested equipment suite will enable Strathclyde and other UK academics to partner with other world-leading groups having complementary analytical facilities, thereby creating an international collaborative network of non-duplicated facilities for trans-national access. Moreover the equipment will generate new research opportunities in advanced materials science in partnership with the National Physical Laboratory, UK industry and academia.
- 08-Jan-2015 - 07-Jan-2019
- Egyptian Cultural Bureau, Chanel Scheme
- Azab, Marwa (Post Grad Student) Wark, Alastair (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2015 - 31-Jan-2017
More projects
Address
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Technology Innovation Centre
Technology Innovation Centre
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