People in the Department
 

Professor Paul Thomas

Head of Department

Professor of Analytical Science

Telephone: ++44 (0)1509 22 2549
FAX: ++44 (0)1509 223925
Email: C.L.P.Thomas@lboro.ac.uk

 

The Science and Art of the determination of volatile organic compounds.

Thank you for visiting my web pages.

I am part of a group of researchers based in a wonderful new facility here at the Department of Chemistry at Loughborough. Working together we are sustaining and growing a “next-generation” multi-disciplinary international centre of excellence in Analytical Science with Analytical Chemistry playing an important central role. Please visit our Analytical Science Research Group page for more information about us and our mission.

Here you will find information about my research that is specific to volatile organic compound determination.  Commentaries on our research highlights will soon be added. There are a selection of our recent publications an introduction to volatile organic compounds. There is a briefing on our science base, research strategy and project portfolio. Finally you will also find information about the research opportunities and the advanced training programmes in analytical science research methods we offer.


Paul Thomas

 

Science Base

My science base is the study of ion mobility techniques at ambient pressure combined with the development of advanced sampling methodologies and systems.

The integration of ion mobility techniques into an advanced separation science community has the potential to yield spectacular advances. I have no doubt that the next generation of separation systems technology will be small, made mostly from recyclable polymer components and will deliver analytical separations orders of magnitude faster than many in this field are currently judge to be feasible. Such advances are likely to be through exploiting electrical fields in the gas phase.

At the moment my research team are looking at Asthma, COPD, skin cancer, apocrine sweat, multi-stage atmospheric ionisation systems, GC-MS/DMS, in trap derivatisation of trace biogenic amines and the development of plastic instruments. My interests are with small and volatile molecules and this knowledge combined with the expertise of the rest of Analytical Science at Loughborough provides a analytical science research capability of international significance.

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Strategy

The 5-year research goals of the research group are:

  • delivery of mixed ionisation studies for differential and ion mobility systems;
  • study and development of high functionality active membrane and sampling devices for condensed phase applications for IMS and DMS;
  • delivery of in-vivo and in–clinic VOC applications;
  • standardised methodologies for integrating IMS and DMS technologies with mass spectrometry.

The key elements of the strategy to achieve these goals are the formation of a strong multi-disciplinary framework comprising authorities in mathematical modelling, software engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, micro-fabrication, clinical research, physics, biology and chemistry. Our Network is a soft one that spans schools, departments, institutions and national boundaries.

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Project Portfolio


μ-fabricated ion mobility systems.

Looking at the processes and engineering systems required to deliver disposable single use ion mobility systems for use in clinical in-vivo applications. Working towards plastic insttruments

Exhaled Breath analysis

Combining advanced adaptive sampling methodologies for the recovery of VOC from the exhaled breath of human participants with respiratory disease. Our Goal is the delivery of fieldable in-clinic methodologies for patient assessment.

In-trap derivatisation

Recovery of highly active VOC species such as biogenic amines and low-carbon number aldehydes by gas phase derivatisation within active sampling systems.

In-vivo mapping of glandular secretion

Reproducible sampling and characterisation of apocrine and ecrine secretions in human subjects. Development of new sampling technologies for sub-μl sampling of human sweat for characterisation by GC-MS,  GC-DMS and GC-IMS.

Counterfeit detection

Development of volatile labels and associated detection systems for embedded labels to prove provenance and authenticity of high value consumer non-durables. Pharmacueticals, fuels, and software for example.

Second generation detection for urban search and rescue

Detection of trapped casualties following massive urban collapse. Production of VOC profiles of trapped and injured humans and the development of detection systems to enable first responders and rescuers to assess the presence and condition of trapped casualties under destroyed buildings.

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Selected Recent Publications

Journal publications

1

Alexandra Baum, Patricia J. Scully, Maria Basanta, C. L. Paul Thomas, Peter R. Fielden, Nicholas J. Goddard, Walter Perrie, and Paul R. Chalker “Photochemistry of refractive index structures in poly(methyl methacrylate) by femtosecond laser irradiation”Optics Letters, 2007 ,  32, 190-192.

2

Victoria N. Stone, Sara J. Baldock, Laura A. Croasdell, Leonard A. Dillon, Peter R. Fielden, Nick J. Goddard, C.L. Paul Thomas and Bernard J. Treves Brown “Free Flow Isotachophoresis in an injection moulded miniaturised separation chamber with integrated electrodes” Journal of Chromatography A, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 16 December 2006.

3

M. Basanta, T.Koimtzis, D. Singh, I. Wilson, and C.L.P. Thomas, “An adaptive breath sampler for use with subjects with an impaired respiratory function” Analyst, 2007, 132, 153 - 163.

4

Abu Kanu and C.L.P. Thomas, “The presumptive detection of benzene in water in the presence of phenol with an active membrane-UV ionisation differential mobility spectrometer” Analyst, 131, (2006) 990.

5

C. A. Hill and C.L.P. Thomas, “Programmable gate delayed ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry: A study with low concentrations of dipropylene-glycol-monomethyl-ether in air”, Analyst, 2005, 130, 1155.

6

N. D. Rezgui, A. B. Kanu, K. E. Waters, B. M. B. Grant, A. J. Reader, C.L.P. Thomas, “Separation and preconcentration phenomena in internally heated poly(dimethylsilicone) capillaries: preliminary modelling and demonstration studies” Analyst, 130 (2005) 755.

7

C. S. Creaser, J. R. Griffiths, C. J. Bramwell, S. Noreen, C. A. Hill, C.L.P. Thomas, “Ion mobility spectrometry: A review Part 1. Structural analysis by mobility measurement”, Analyst, 129 (2004) 984.

8

C.A. Veasey, and C.L.P. Thomas, “Fast quantitative characterisation of differential mobility responses”, Analyst, 129 (2004) 198.

9

C.L.P. Thomas and Alison Foulkes   “GLOW Graduate learning on the web”,  www.glow.ac.uk, 2004.

10

M. D. G. Meniconi, R. Parris, and C.L.P. Thomas, “Fast volatile organic compound recovery from soil standards for analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography”, Analyst, 128 (2003) 1232.

11

B. Kanu , M. Dixon, Y. Y. Zu, J. Bailey, J. M. Gillies, J. Zweit, C.L.P. Thomas, “Rapid screening of 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose infusions for volatile organic compound contaminants by solid phase micro-extraction with gas chromatography - selective ion monitoring mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-SIMMS)”, App. Rad. Isotopes,58 (2003) 193.

12

A.B. Kanu and C. L. Paul Thomas, “Analysis of trichlorobenzene in surface waters by differential mobility spectrometry.” International Journal of Ion mobility spectrometry, 6 (2003), 15.

13

C. A. Hill , C.L.P. Thomas, “A pulsed corona discharge switchable high resolution ion mobility spectrometer-mass spectrometer” Analyst, 128 (2003) 55.

14

C.L.P. Thomas, “The management of co-eluting peaks in atmospheric pressure ionisation sources: exploiting the effect of field strength in differential mobility spectrometry” International Journal of Ion mobility spectrometry, 6 (2003), 9.

15

C. L. Paul Thomas, N. D. Rezgui, A. B. Kanu, W. A. Munro, Measuring the temperature of the drift gas in an ion mobility spectrometer: a technical note. International Journal of Ion mobility spectrometry, 5 (2002), 31.

16

V. Bocos-Bintintan, A. Brittain, and C.L.P. Thomas, “Characterisation of the phosgene response of a membrane inlet Ni-63 ion mobility spectrometer” Analyst, 127 (2002) 1211.

17

Carol Hill and Paul Thomas “Pulsed corona discharge: A replacement for 63 Ni in ion mobility sources?”International Journal of Ion mobility spectrometry, 5 (2002), 155.

18

D Young, G. A. Eiceman, J. Breach, A. H. Brittain, and C.L.P. Thomas, “Automated control and optimisation of ion mobility spectrometry responses using a sheath-flow inlet”, Anal. Chim. Acta, 463 (2002) 143.

19

C.L.P. Thomas, Sensitivity and Resolution in Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry”, International Journal of Ion mobility spectrometry, 4 (2001), 62.

20

 V. Bocos-Bintintan, A. Brittain and C.L.P. Thomas, “The response of a membrane inlet ion mobility spectrometer to chlorine and the effect of water contamination of the drying media on ion mobility spectrometric responses to chlorine” Analyst, 126, (2001) 1539.

Conference publications

  1.  

Paper

Leonard Dillon, P.R.Fielden, N.J.Goddard, Laura Croasdale, Victoria Stone and C. L. Paul Thomas C.L.P. Thomas, Electrospray Ionisation Of Volatile Analytes:
 A Parametric Study Of Secondary Electrospray Ionisation” 16th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Mikkeli Finland, July 2007

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Mobility Spectrometers as Detectors for Chromatographs” 16th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Mikkeli Finland, July 2007

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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Mobility Spectrometers as Detectors for Chromatographs” 16th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Mikkeli Finland, July 2007

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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas “Quantitative Response in mobility spectrometers, Data Reduction Methods” 16th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Mikkele Finland, July 2007
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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Ion Chemistry in air at ambient pressure , 16th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Mikkeli Finlan, July 2007
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Invited paper

C. L. Paul Thomas “IMS and Breath Analysis” 17th International Reid Bioanalytical Forum, Guilford, United Kingdom,  9th to 11th July 2007.

  1.  

Invited paper

C. L. Paul Thomas “Detection of volatile organic components in condensed phases by active membrane differential mobility spectrometry” 6th International Colloquium on Process Related Analytical Chemistry ISAS Dortmund Germany March 2007,

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “ Differential Mobility Spectrometry, Breath Analysis”  Maria Basanta, Theo Koimtzis, Dave Singh, Ian Wilson,  Ranaan, Miller,  and Roy Goodacre,  Theophilis Redwood Symposium, University of Manchester, 7th March  2007

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Personal Invitation from Prof. R. Yost

C.L.P. Paul Thomas, “Differential Mobility for the Analysis of Breath” Pittcon, Chicago, USA, February/March 2007
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Poster, awarded a Diploma The Best Poster Prize

Maria Basanta Ian Wilson Richard Dennis David Singh and C.L.P. Paul Thomas, “Exhaled breath analysis  by gas chromatography-differential mobility spectrometry with dispersion field programming” International Scientific Meeting: Breath Analysis in Physiology and Medicine, Prague September 4th and 5th 2006.
  1.  

Paper

C.L.P. Thomas “ Introduction to DMS” , International Scientific Meeting: Breath Analysis in Physiology and Medicine, Prague September 4th and 5th 2006.
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Paper

Maria Basanta, Prof. Ian Wilson, Richard Dennis,  Bob Bateman, C.L.P. Thomas, “Sampling and analysis of exhaled breath on human subjects with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-differential mobility spectrometry” International Scientific Meeting: Breath Analysis in Physiology and Medicine, Prague September 4th and 5th 2006.

  1.  

Paper

Theo Koimtzis, Nick Goddard, and, C.L.P. Thomas, “Can ion mobility instruments be made out of plastic? Strategies for simpler designs and miniaturization with injection moulding techniques”15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005.
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Paper

Maria Basanta, C.L.P. Thomas, “Sampling and analysis of exhaled breath on human subjects with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-differential mobility spectrometry.” 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005.
  1.  

Poster

Will Cheung Raanan Miller, Roy Goodacre and C.L.P. Thomas ” Pyrolysis, GC-DMS” 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005.
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Paper

C.L.P. Thomas, Avaes Mohammad and G.A. Eiceman, “Inter- and intra- molecular concentration factors in differential mobility responses.” 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005.

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “ Ion Chemistry Detection and Monitoring” 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005

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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas “Ion sources” 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005
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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Quantitative response in IMS”, 15th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Ohau Hawaii, July 2005
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Paper

Maria Basanta, Theo Koimtzis, David Singh and C.L.P. Thomas, “Analysis of the exhale breath of human subjects with coronary obstructive pulmonary disease with thermal desorption-gas chromatography differential mobility spectrometry”, Ninth International Symposium On Hyphenated Techniques In Chromatography And Hyphenated Chromatographic Analysis, York  UK. February 2006.
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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Advances in Ionisation Systems” The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Molecular Spectroscopy Group, Sensor, Separation and Mass Spectrometry, IMS the full picture, Manchester, UK, January 2006.
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Plenary Paper

C.L.P. Thomas and Carol A. Hill, “Programmable Gate-Delay ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry. British Mass spectrometry Society, York, UK, September 2005.

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Poster

Theo Koimtzis and C.L.P. Thomas, “Why develop unipolar ionisation sources for DMS?”, 14th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Paris 2005, Maffliers, Paris, July 2005.

  1.  

Poster

Maria Basanta and C.L.P. Thomas, “Exhaled breath analysis by TD-GC-DMS, 14th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry”, Paris 2005, Maffliers, Paris, July 2005

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Paper

C.L.P. Thomas, Maria Basanta, Avaes Mohammad, and Jonothan Chung, “Doping in GC-DMS”, 14th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Paris 2005, Maffliers, Paris, July 2005.

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, ”Ionisation processes in IMS”, 14th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, pre-conference workshop, Paris 2005, Maffliers, Paris, July 2005.

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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Applications for IMS” 14th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, pre-conference workshop, Paris 2005, Maffliers, Paris, July 2005.
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Invited lecture

C.L.P. Thomas and Maria Basanta, “The art and science of volatile organic compound determination” North West Lung Research Centre, Manchester June 2005.

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Poster

Maria Basanta, Theo Koimtzis and C.L.P. Thomas, “Protocol for producing an ion mobility spectrometry library of VOC in human breath”, Breath Gas Analysis for Medical Diagnostics, Dornbirn, Austria, September 2004.

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Intrinsically valid measurements …measurements that are self-contained.” Workshop on advanced measurements, Sensors for Water Interest Group, Swindon, UK December 2004

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Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “The Chemistry associated with IMS”, 13th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Gattlingburg, SA, Jul 2004.

  1.  

Paper

C.L.P. Thomas and Abu Kanu, “Temperature Programmable Membrane Interfaces for Ion Mobility Spectrometry”, 13th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Gattlingburg, USA     July 2004.

  1.  

Poster

Maria Basanta, Theo Koimtzis and C.L.P. Thomas, “Protocol for producing an ion mobility spectrometry library of VOC in human breath” 13th International conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Gattlingburg, USA, July 2004.

  1.  

Invited lecture

C.L.P. Thomas, “An introduction to ion mobility spectrometry, its applications, and ongoing research in DIAS” Emerging Analytical Techniques,    Astra Zeneca, Alderly Park, UK July 2004.

  1.  

Invited lecture

C.L.P. Thomas, “Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry”, HFL Miniaturisation Seminar, Newmarket, UK, November 2003.

  1.  

Paper

C.L.P. Thomas and Cathy Veasey, “Towards the development of a trace formaldehyde assay for the VOA “ 12th international conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Umea, Sweden, July 2003.
  1.  

 Paper

C.L.P. Thomas and Carol Hill, “Characterising the product ions from methyl salicylate by PCD in the negative mode”12th international conference on ion mobility spectrometry,          Umea, Sweden, July 2003.

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Ion mobility spectrometry.  Smaller, faster, cheaper. Is this the new contender? “,Bioanalysis, University of Surrey, July 2003.

  1.  

Invited lecture

C.L.P. Thomas, “Ion mobility spectrometry”, 2002 Astra Zeneca Conference on Bioanalysis, Astra Zeneca, Alderly Park Cheshire, UK, July 2002.

  1.  

Invited paper

C.L.P. Thomas and Carol Hill, “Ion formation dynamics in pulsed corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry”, 2002 Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, New Orleans, LA, USA, March 2002.
  1.  

Paper

C.L.P. Thomas, “Sensitivity and resolution in gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry”, 10th international conference on ion mobility spectrometry, Wernergeroeder, Germany, August 2001.

  1.  

Paper. 

Cathy Veasey, Tom Limero and C.L.P. Thomas, ”Formaldehyde determination by ion mobility spectrometry-gas chromatography”, 31st International conference on environmental systems, Disneyland Resort, Florida, USA, July 2001.

  1.  

Invited Paper.

C.L.P. Thomas, “130,000 plates in under 10sec - separations  with ion mobility spectrometry”, Hot Topics in Chromatography, Royal Society of Chemistry North West Region Analytical Division, In conjunction with the Royal Society of Chemistry Chromatography & Electrophoresis Group  of and the Chromatographic Society, ICI Runcorn,  February 2001.

  1.  

Invited paper.

C.L.P. Thomas, “Sampling issues and problems”, Current developments and future prospects in environmental monitoring, Royal Society of Chemistry, Newcastle, January 2001.

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Volatile Organic Compounds: a briefing and introduction.

Our mission is to study and develop intrinsically valid sampling and detection systems for the determination of volatile organic compounds in complex media. We are based in a superb facility, in the Chemistry Department at Loughborough. We have access to the very best equipment and facilities and our research addresses all aspects of human endeavour from monitoring space cabin atmospheres, the rapid detection of releases of toxic chemicals, through to diseases and environmental pollution monitoring.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are a hugely important and fascinating area of science. From our first moments of life as we bond with our mother, and through childhood we associate smells with the familiar and comforting surroundings of home and family. Let’s take a moment to recall with pleasure our first encounters with the heady smell of a lover’s perfume and then to wonder about the secret and subtle messages conveyed to and from us by VOC.

At the other end of life as our body’s biochemistry changes through the onset of disease and general ageing, our profile of volatile organic compounds changes, giving rise to chemical markers of disease and distress within us. In fact in death itself we find some of our strongest reactions to smell, for the biogenic amines associated with decay provoke physical revulsion in most of us, indeed to the point of nausea for many. We are most intimately bound up in VOC, from birth to death and all points between the study of volatile organic compounds has much to tell us about the human condition.

Volatile organic compounds are strongly associated with environmental pollution. Indeed the first global treaty on pollution was concerned with some of the most volatile of volatile organic compounds, CFCs. Photochemical smog arises from volatile organic compounds pollution of the atmosphere, and respiratory disease and asthma are of concern to many of us. Indeed many tens of thousands of people die prematurely each year in the UK and many more suffer because of air pollution. Across the world the figure is frighteningly large.

With each breath we take we are inhaling a mixture of poisons associated with a wide range of human activities, but dominated by emissions from motor vehicles. Do you know what the levels of formaldehyde, benzene and butadiene are in your air? Formaldehyde provokes acute respiratory distress in some, it’s also a carcinogen, as is benzene, and butadiene does your vital organs no favours. The contamination of soils and water by volatile organic compounds is important too, particularly as we seek to exploit “brown-field” sites for human habitation. Understanding environmental pollution, and protecting ourselves from excessive pollution need highly reliable measurement systems. The epidemeology of respiratory disease also needs high quality data about the type and extent of individual human subjects’ exposures to pollutants.

Sad to say, in warfare VOC are the basis of chemical weapons. Mixtures of VOC have been developed to burn our skin, blind us, and damage our lungs. Awful as mustard agents are, for that is what these weapons are known as, for many the thought of nerve-agents is more frightening, with minute quantities of these materials capable of killing us in a terrible manner. A different form of conflict invokes images of sniffer dogs seeking out drugs and explosives. A huge research effort across the world is seeking to establish the fastest, most sensitive and most affordable ways of detecting the “black-sheep” of the VOC family: chemical warfare agents, illegal narcotics and hidden explosives. Indeed the ability to undertake reliable ultra-trace VOC determinations is a primary requirement for any forensic service.

Love them or hate them, we can’t get by without volatile organic compounds. Everything we use, eat and drink depends upon the use of these chemicals. We need them and have to control their release to safeguard the health of workforces, protect the environment and assure the quality of the products and processes on which we rely.

The volatile organic compounds group seeks to develop a better understanding of the analysis and determination of these, by turns, alluring, frightening and above all fascinating molecules. Our research is associated with forensic science, environmental protection, industrial process monitoring, and healthcare and clinical interventions. If you want to find out more about the work we do and the opportunities available to study and collaborate with us please get in touch. We would be delighted to hear from you.

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Advanced training programmes

Most of us get only one opportunity to participate in University life, and so I am committed to creating and providing an outstanding learning environment for all concerned. I am proud to belong to a learning community that is unswerving in its focus on the discovery and dissemination of knowledge across all parts and at all levels of its operations.

Nineteenth Century models of teaching (“Jug and mug” operations) are no longer sustainable. To compete with the best in the world we/I are seeking to blend skilfully new, and emerging, teaching and learning technologies with effective interventions that promote the psychology of excellence.

Excellence in teaching and learning has always been about engaging with the emotional states, modalities and behaviours of teachers and learners. Many in this area, me included, want a culture that engenders a desire for independence, excellence and growth within the individual, and we/I value a playful, curious and engaged approach to learning in our research teams. The tools needed to create and sustain such an ethos are there to be used and post-graduate training within my research group seeks to deliver high-performance coaching in a careful evidence based way. The outcome I am striving for is a place where learning, growing and developing is great fun, and all feel confident and secure in their contributions and roles within the “project”. Our most important target is that all members of our team achieve their true potential in a demanding and academically challenging environment that requires a complete personal commitment to excellence.

If you want to contribute to the work of my research group and join in the post-graduate programmes at PhD, Masters or post-doctorial levels then I would be delighted to hear from you.

 
 
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