Dr Mark Platt
Department of Chemistry
Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry
Mark Platt graduated with a degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Salford and joined Prof Robert Dryfe’s group at the University of Manchester. Investigating the field of liquid/liquid electrochemistry (also known as the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions, ITIES), he obtained his PhD in 2004 from the University of Manchester with a thesis entitled “Controlled deposition at the liquid/liquid interface.”
After completing his PhD he held postdoctoral positions at Pennsylvania State University, Cambridge University, The University of Manchester and University College Dublin where before joining the Chemistry department at Loughborough in 2012, Mark was a Marie Curie Fellow at University College Dublin.
Current research
Mark has built a multidisciplinary career and his research group comprises of three subgroups.
1 – Particle synthesis, using fundamental research into nanoparticle synthesis by investigating the creation of multifunctional biocompatible particles within bespoke chemical reactors. These novel chemical reactors allow for controlled and measured formulation of nanomaterials with functionalised surfaces, including controlled spatial orientation, and loading of aptamers onto their surface.
2 – Aptamer design, we can engineer the surfaces of the materials to be biocompatible and equip them with a capacity to selectively target analytes though DNA aptamers.
3- Nanopore sensors, we are using tunable resistive pulse sensing, TRPS, to characterise nanomaterials and biological particles.
External Activities
- Member of the Biomedical Research Unit – Diet, lifestyle and physical activity.
- Faculty member of Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care
- Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, MRSC
- Member of the International Society on Aptamers
- Secretary for the International Society on Aptamers
- Member of the British Society of Nanomedicine
- Marie Curie Research Fellow
- Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, MRSC.
Teaching responsibilities:
- Module Leader CMA011 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
- Lecturer for CMA011 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
- Lab Demonstrator for CMB015
- Lead Investigator for a CMC026 research project
- Lecturer for CMD032 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
- Lecturer for CMP064 Innovations in Analytical Science
- Module Leader for CMP065 Sensors
- Lecturer for CMP065 Sensors
- Lab demonstrator for CMP057
- Module leader for CMP056 Research Training Projects
Departmental Responsibilities:
- Coordinator for University Open and UCAS Days
- Part of the Admissions team