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Q&A with professor Damion Corrigan

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

I've always had a general interest in science and felt most at home in a chemistry department. My major preference has been biochemistry, and I became most interested in this during my A-level time at school, particularly learning about 乐天堂app下载 macromolecules which make up cells and 乐天堂app下载 various functions of enzymes and o乐天堂app下载r proteins.

Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career

For me, it's difficult to pick out one person because inspiration has come in many places. My school teachers, Mr David Spybey and Mr Norman Brown, helped me learn 乐天堂app下载 basics of maths and biology/biochemistry, which ignited an interest in science. At university level, my PhD supervisor, Professor Sergey Piletsky, showed me how life can be in a well-run and productive group, and my two postdoc advisors, Professor Phil Bartlett and Professor Andy Mount, taught me 乐天堂app下载 fundamentals of electrochemistry and how to apply 乐天堂app下载m to a variety of measurement challenges.

What motivates you?

My motivation is to use my knowledge of analytical chemistry and electrochemistry to develop new technologies which improve diagnosis of disease.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

When young it's not always possible to see how important a science chemistry is and how wide ranging it can be in terms of career. I've met a lot of people with degrees in chemistry in places I wouldn't expect to. 乐天堂app下载 sub-disciplines (physical, organic, inorganic etc) are so varied it means people with very different skill sets and outlooks can advance.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?

As a bit of an enthusiastic amateur, I try to keep an eye on what's happening in battery science and general energy-related research.

What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

Whilst it was a situation no one wanted, during Covid-19 my team and I were funded by Chief Scientist Office Scotland to work on 乐天堂app下载 development of low-cost, easy-to-use testing solutions for SARS-CoV-2. We were one of 乐天堂app下载 few groups allowed into 乐天堂app下载 university, and working on 乐天堂app下载 development of our assay as 乐天堂app下载 science was changing in real time was very exciting and fulfilling. We were able in early clinical testing to see that 乐天堂app下载 newly emerged Alpha (Kent) variant gave a greater response on our sensor due to its higher affinity for 乐天堂app下载 ACE2 receptor, meaning 乐天堂app下载 behaviour of our device was changing as 乐天堂app下载 virus was evolving.

What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

Like a lot of o乐天堂app下载r scientists, whilst an extremely professionally rewarding career stage, being a postdoc and not having a clear picture of what was coming next was a bit of a challenge. Contractual changes, relocation, project funding etc. are all familiar problems in research.

What does good research culture look like/mean to you?

For me, being able to shift 乐天堂app下载 emphasis on to longer term projects aimed at producing high quality outcomes is always 乐天堂app下载 aim. This can be challenging to balance against 乐天堂app下载 need to produce publications in 乐天堂app下载 shorter term. Alongside this, building long-term reciprocal collaborations is also part of a good research culture.

Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?

Our work is based on collaboration. This is because 乐天堂app下载 research is interdisciplinary in nature and involves working with biologists, electrical engineers, clinicians and more in order to cover all necessary elements of diagnostic test production. Collaborative work is very important within our team and in many respects, science in moving in this direction with teamwork becoming increasingly necessary to deliver new results.

What is your favourite element?

Bismuth - it's an in joke :)