Brenden J. Theaker

Preliminary Year Senior Tutor in Science & Engineering

Science and Engineering Education / Faculty of Science and Engineering

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         

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.