Brenden J. Theaker

Senior Tutor of Science & Engineering

Centre for English Language Education
Staff Profile Portrait Image


Contact

Office

Trent Building 380

Campus

University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Address

199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, 315100, China

Telephone

+86 (0)574 8818 8427 (Ext 8427)

Qualifications

B.Sc. Chemistry with German, Kingston University UK

M.Sc. Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation, Loughborough University, UK

Ph.D. Analytical Food Chemistry, University of Teesside, UK

Professional Qualifications:                       

Member of Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) 2003-Date

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) 2010-Date         


Biography

Dr Brenden Theaker has over 20 years’ experience in analytical chemistry, predominantly as a chromatographer and  food chemist. He has worked in both industry and academia and his research has led to many publications and patents. He has experience of teaching a wide range of analytical chemistry techniques to audiences from Foundation Year to M.Sc./M.Chem teaching groups. He has also work in cross-disciplinary research projects.

I studied my first degree (Chemistry with German) at Kingston University, followed by an M.Sc. in Instrumental and Analytical Chemistry at Loughborough University. I then completed his Ph.D. in Analytical Food Chemistry at University   of Teesside.

I then then took up a postdoctoral position at Sunderland University, working with Prof. Fred Rowell, researching  enzyme analysis (in collaboration with Unilever) and forensic based applications of nanoparticles. This resulted in numerous patents and publications. During this time, I developed his teaching portfolio through visiting lectureships at the universities of Sunderland and Teesside.

After conclusion of these projects, I spent 2 years working in industry, firstly with D1 Oils Ltd (Analysis and  detoxification of biofuel by-products) and eminate Ltd (Nanotechnology specialists).

I returned to academia as a Teaching Fellow within the Centre for Analytical Science based at Loughborough University (2008), gaining further experience in teaching a wide range of analytical science techniques (GC, HPLC, MS, FAAS, FES, IR, FL and Radiochemistry). In 2010, I was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

In 2014, I was appointed Associate Lecturer Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry within the School of Forensic and Applied Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire, (UCLan), where I contributed to the fields of teaching and research, from Foundation Year to M.Sc./M. Chem. I was a member of supervisory team of an Analytical Chemistry/Forensic Science Ph.D. proposal and a member of the UCLan/Lancashire Constabulary partnership.

In 2016, I joined the Centre for English Language Education (CELE) at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo China, to join the team teaching the science modules on the Foundation Year Science programme.


Teaching

In addition to teaching under-graduate and post-graduate taught modules in Analytical Chemistry techniques, I also  have experience in teaching statistics & mathematics for scientists, Skills for Science, Professional skills and foundation year Physics. I have supervised over 20 UG, M.Sc. & M.Chem research projects, including projects in collaboration with industry, including Astra Zeneca,  Sika Plastics Ltd and Quay Pharmaceuticals

 


Publications

Patents

F.J. Rowell and B. J. Theaker: Fingerprint Analysis Using Mass Spectrometry (2006) Patent no. W02007/017701

F.J. Rowell and B. J. Theaker: Hydrophobic Silica Nanoparticles, (2005) UK Patent no. GB0516272.2

Publications

Doped Hydrophobic Silica Nano- and Micro-particles as Novel Agents for developing Latent Fingerprints, B. J. Theaker  and K. E. Hudson and F. J. Rowell, Forensic Sci. Int. 174 (2008) 26

A Near Real Time System for Continuously Monitoring Airborne Subtilisin-type Enzymes in the Industrial Atmosphere,  F.J. Rowell, L. Grieveson, B. J. Theaker, L. Sundar, D. Sykes and R. H. Cumming, Journal of Environmental Monitoring,   9(2007) 33

A Rapid and Sensitive Fluorometric Flow Injection Assay For Subtilisin-type Enzymes Utilising Sol-Gel Particles Directly Coated With Gelatin-Texas Red Substrate; B. J. Theakerand F. J. Rowell, Analyst128, (2003), 1043

Analysis of Seafood Aroma/Odour by Electronic Nose Technology and Direct Analysis, J. M. Grigor, B. J. Theaker, C. Alasalvar, W. T. O’Hare and Z. Ali, in C. Alasalvar and T. Taylor (Eds.) Seafoods- Quality, Technology and Nutraceutical Applications, Springer-Verlag, Germany, (2002) 105

Z. Ali, D. James, W. T. O'Hare, F. J. Rowell, T. Sarkodie-Gyan, S. M. Scott and B. J. Theakerin J. W. Gardner and K.    C. Persaud (Eds.) Electronic Noses and Olfaction 2000, Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing, Bristol, UK,     (2000) 229