Dr Deborah Crawford

Biography

Deborah obtained her MSci in Chemistry at Queen’s University Belfast in 2010, she also carried out research at Queen’s University Ionic Liquid Laboratories (QUILL), conducting Friedel Craft reactions in ionic liquids and preparing ionic liquids with antimicrobial properties. Deborah went on to carry out a PhD at the same institution, receiving her PhD in 2015 with a dissertation on the synthesis of diphosphine digold(I) complexes that involved investigation of their structural and optical properties, under the supervision of Dr C. Lagunas. Onwards, she spent one year seconded into the spin out company MOF Technologies Ltd., funded by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, focusing on the manufacture of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Deborah was then appointed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, under the supervision of Professor S. L. James, to investigate synthesis by extrusion. This involves carrying out both organic and inorganic synthesis in the solid state, in the complete absence of solvent, promoting the possibility of making the manufacture of fine chemicals environmentally sustainable. Subsequent to this, Deborah then undertook another Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, with Professor James, investigating new hosts for Porous Liquids. These are novel materials invented by Professor James to incorporate fluidity into porous materials. Deborah continues to be involved in this work. Now, Deborah is a newly appointed Bio-Organic Lecturer (January 2020) in the School of Chemistry and Biosciences at the University of Bradford. Her main research focus i) involves determining the biological activity of metallodrugs prepared mechanochemically, ii) investigating and understanding the mechanism by which solid-state sonochemical reactions proceed and iii) developing a new prototype for the immediate detection of sepsis, with an interface that is user-friendly for care providers. In addition, Deborah is part of the Core Group Management Committee for the EU COST Action 18112, and leads the Work Group focused on Scalability of Mechanochemical Processes.