The Building Blocks of Life

Searching for the essence of life on Earth, understanding climate change and investigating the spread of diseases - these are a few examples of the fundamental research that academics at St Andrews will be tackling with new equipment won under a competitive £0.5M NERC grant! This cutting edge analytical set-up combines a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with a gas chromatograph (GC), and will be the first of its kind in the EU (and only the third in the world!). The NERC capital equipment fund bid was led by Drs Andrea Burke, James Rae, and Heidi Burdett from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, supported by an interdisciplinary team including Profs David Paterson,  Ian Johnston, and Derek Woollins from the Schools of Biology and Chemistry.
 

The state-of-the-art clean mass spectrometry lab where the new
equipment will be housed

One of the exciting major applications for this new equipment is the measurement of sulfur isotopes. The study of sulfur has both pure and applied uses, as it is a key element on scales ranging from nano to global, and in processes ranging from climate forcing by volcanic eruptions, to the processing of sulfur-rich crude oils. This new analytical set-up permits the measurement of sulfur isotopes on samples a thousand times smaller than previously possible, and will provide valuable new information on climate sensitivity, metabolic pathways, and Earth resources and their recovery.

 For further information on this, contact Dr Andrea Burke.

New at St Andrews: Institute for Data-Intensive Research

The St Andrews Institute for Data-Intensive Research (IDIR) is a new institute set up to provide a focus for research and teaching activities across the University driven by access to “big data”. 

IDIR will bring the University’s strengths in humanities and social sciences with those in computer, mathematical, life, and physical scientists to share insights and techniques. IDIR results from the enormous volume of activity taking place across the University that could broadly be described as data-driven – from data science, through digital humanities and digital social science, to digital medicine, which all share common characteristics. They are exploring new techniques and opportunities brought about by the availability of large volumes of data and the processing power needed to manipulate them.

Some of the Schools included are Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, International Relations, Earth and Environmental Sciences and History.

Professor James Naismith appointed FRS - Congratulations!

Congratulations to Prof. James Naismith, of the School of Chemistry and Director of Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, who was recently elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS). Prof. Naismith is cited by the Royal Society for his stunning structural and chemical dissection of the many proteins involved in natural product recognition, synthesis and export. His work has revealed new paradigms in the recognition of nucleic acids and carbohydrates, unveiled novel chemical mechanisms for enzymatic nucleophilic substitution and addition and provided the first views, both structural and dynamic, of polysaccharide export systems in bacteria. His work is characterised by a synthesis of three-dimensional structural understanding with profound chemical insight.

The Royal Society, the oldest scientific society in the world, recently announced 50 new Fellows and 10 Foreign Members. Election to FRS is considered one of the greatest achievements that can be bestowed on a scientist.

Congratulations to IPMI Graduate Student Award winner

Congratulation to Adrian Gomez Suarez of the School of Chemistry for being selected the winner of the International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI) Graduate Student Award. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding work by a graduate student in precious metals research. Mr Gomez Suarez recounts, "My PhD project is focused on the synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of gold complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. During the past decade gold complexes have been shown to be highly active catalysts for a wide variety of organic transformations. The development and study of NHC-gold complexes is therefore of great importance to a wide range of researchers in the chemistry community. Our studies have contributed to a better understanding of the chemistry of gold-NHC complexes in general, and led to significant further developments in the chemistry of dinuclear gold species. Several of the gold complexes developed as result of our studies are now commercially available."

The award will be presented in Orland, Florida, in June. 

Royal Society of Edinburgh Prizes - St Andrews honoured

The Royal Society of Edinburgh has announced their Prize Winners for 2014 and the University of St Andrews is honoured to have received four! Sincere congratulations are in order to Professor Andrew Whiten FRSE FBA, Dr Katie Stevenson, Dr Per Ola Kristensson and Dr Catherine Cazin on their fantastic achievements.
  
Senior Prize for Public Engagement to Professor Andrew Whiten FRSE FBA, Wardlaw Professor of Psychology and Professor of Evolutionary and Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology and Neurosciences, for his extensive, creative and unique forms of public engagement particularly as founding Director of the “Living Links to Human Evolution” Research Centre at Edinburgh Zoo.
 

Thomas Reid Medal (Early Career Prize) to Dr Katie Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Late Medieval History, School of History, for her outstanding scholarly work on the cultural and political history of late medieval Scotland which has established her as a leading international expert in the field and for her commitment to knowledge exchange. 
                     
RSE/Makdougall Brisbane Medal (Early Career Prize) to Dr Per Ola Kristensson, Lecturer in Human Computer Interaction, School of Computer Science, for his outstanding research work and entrepreneurialism that intersects human-computer interaction, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Dr. Kristensson is also a Member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.

RSE/Makdougall Brisbane Medal (Early Career Prize) to Dr Catherine Cazin, Royal Society University Research Fellow and Lecturer, School of Chemistry, for her outstanding research work and breadth and depth of experience in her chosen field of homogeneous catalysis. Dr. Cazin is also a Member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.

5 University of St Andrews RSE Young Academy members announced

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced the second group of RSE Young Academy of Scotland appointments, which consists of 50 new members, including 5 from St Andrews.

• Catherine S J Cazin - School of Chemistry
• Chris S Jones - School of English
• Per Ola Kristensson - School of Computer Science
• Christian Rutz - School of Biology
• Andrew R Timming - School of Management 

The RSE Young Academy of Scotland fosters interdisciplinary activities among emerging leaders from the disciplines of science and humanities, the professions, the arts, business and civil society. Established by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2011, the Young Academy of Scotland provides a platform for able and innovative young entrepreneurs, professionals and academics to develop a coherent and influential voice, and to address the most challenging issues facing society in Scotland and beyond.

Prof. Morris receives Royal Society award

Professor Russell Morris, of the School of Chemistry, has recently been awarded the Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation 2012.

Prof. Morris was given the award in recognition of technology he has developed that could significantly improve wound healing in people, such as those who suffer from diabetes, the elderly and the obese. The innovation could also greatly cut associated woudn treating costs to the NHS.

The Brian Mercer Award for Innovation is a scheme for scientists who wish to develop an already proven concept or prototype into a near-market product ready for commercial exploitation. Prof. Morris will receive funding from the Royal Society to develop the technology further so that it can be clinically trialled. The award was presented to Prof. Morris on 5 December in London by The Duke of York.

Royal Society Medal for Early Career Researcher

Dr Sharon Ashbrook, Reader in Physical Chemistry has been awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh Makdougall Brisbane Medal, recognising her excellent achievements as an early career researcher in the physical sciences and for her leadership record and commitment to excellence in all areas of academic life.

Dr Ashbrook is at the forefront of research into solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Her current research interests focus on the development of new methods in solid-state NMR, particularly for quadrupolar nuclei, such as ¹⁷O, ²³Na and ²⁷Al. She is also interested in the application of these methods to a wide range of systems including minerals, zeolites and ceramics. More recently, Sharon has developed an interest in the application of first-principles calculations of NMR parameters in the solid state.

Prof Bruce honoured with AkzoNobel award for chemical research

Professor Peter Bruce, FRS, of the School of Chemistry, has been awarded the AkzoNobel UK Science Award for his outstanding contributions in the fields of solid state chemistry and electrochemistry. Prof. Bruce’s fundamental chemical research could help transform the range of electric vehicles and make renewable energy more viable. Among his achievements, Prof. Bruce has conducted ground-breaking research into nanostructured intercalation electrodes and polymer electrolytes that underpin rechargeable lithium ion batteries. He received the award and £50,000 at a ceremony at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in London on February 7. [press link][video link]

Royal Society Fellowships announced for 2011

The University of St Andrews is delighted to announce the appointment by the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science, of three St Andrews scientists as new University Research Fellows. The prestigious University Research Fellowship scheme aims to provide outstanding scientists, who have the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. The scheme is extremely competitive and URFs are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.

Dr Vasilis Archontis  - School of Mathematics and Statistics  

Discovering the nature of outstanding aspects of the solar magnetic activity

Dr Catherine Cazin - School of Chemistry

Catalytic C-H bond functionalisation

Dr Silvia Paracchini - School of Medicine    

A genetic and functional genomic study of neurodevelopmental disorders

Candle flame nanoparticle insight

Research, involving Professor Wuzong Zhou of the School of Chemistry, using anodic aluminium oxide films as collectors, identified all four well-known carbon forms, diamond, graphitic, fullerenic and amorphous particles, inside a candle flame, suggesting a new nucleation mechanism for diamond growth and fullerene formation in a combustion-synthesizing process. It is estimated that over 1.5 million nanodiamond particles form in a candle flame per second! [full article]

School of Chemistry award winners

The School of Chemistry would like to congratulate the following individuals on their recent prize successes:

• Professor Peter Bruce has been awarded the German Chemical Society Arfvedson Schlenk Prize recognising his work on new Li batteries
• Dr Sharon Ashbrook has received The Royal Society of Chemistry Marlow Award for her outstanding contributions to solid state nmr
• Professor Russell Morris has received The Royal Society of Chemisty Applied Inorganic Chemistry Award for developments in microporous solids
• Catherine Cazin has been awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

Elements of Genius - 200 years of Chemistry at St Andrews

An exhibition, 'Elements of Genius: The Legacy of Chemistry in St Andrews' is currently on display at the Gateway Galleries. Coinciding with the 200-year anniversary of chemistry teaching at the University of St Andrews and the International Year of Chemistry 2011, it examines various significant contributions of many of the distinguished chemists from the School of Chemistry during its long history.
The student-hosted exhibition runs from the 19th March to the 21st May, with special events on in April and May. Admission is free.

Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows named

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has today announced the new intake of Fellows for 2011, which includes three academics from the University of St Andrews:

• Professor Francis Stephen Halliwell, Professor of Greek, School of Classics
• Professor Alexandra Martha Zoya Slawin, Professor of Chemical Crystallography, School of Chemistry
• Professor Klaus Zuberbuhler, Professor of Psychology, School of Psychology 

The RSE recognises each new Fellow as having achieved excellence within their discipline or profession. 

8 REF St Andrews Sub-Panel members announced

The recent announcement of REF 2014 sub-panel members included eight members from the University of St Andrews. 

• Panel A, Sub-panel 4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
  Professor Verity Brown
• Panel B, Sub-panel 8: Chemistry
  Professor David O'Hagan
• Panel C, Sub-panel 18: Economics and Econometrics
  Professor Alan Sutherland
  Panel C, Sub-panel 19: Business and Management Studies
  Professor Jan Bebbington
  Panel C, Sub-panel 21: Politics and International Studies
  Professor Richard English
• Panel D, Sub-panel 30: History
  Professor Andrew Pettegree
  Panel D, Sub-panel 32: Philosophy
  Professor Katherine Hawley
  Panel D, Sub-panel 34: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
  Professor Brendan Cassidy
  

During 2011, the teams will work on developing the criteria and working methods specific to each panel. The full lists can be found on the HEFCE REF 2014 website.