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researcher

Dr Tom Swift

Assistant Professor

Faculty/Dept/School School of Chemistry and Bioscience
(Faculty of Life Sciences)
Emailt.swift@bradford.ac.uk
Telephone +441274 235487

Biography

Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry

Dr Swift's research focuses on functional polymer materials; primarily stimuli responsive macromolecules which respond to their surroundings. He has an interest in developing new characterisation techniques to better understand these complex material systems.

He received a degree as a master of Chemistry (MChem Industry) from the University of York, having spent his fourth year at an industrial placement at AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints division researching novel film functionality.

He began a PhD at the University of Sheffield where he specialised in stimuli responsive polymer synthesis and analysis, in a range of fields and applications including; fluorescence tagging, material characterisation, solution behavior of smart polymers and an understanding of water treatment processes. Practical experience with free radical, RAFT and ATRP methods of synthesising both linear polymers, branched polymers and hydrogels, extensive use of GPC techniques and time resolved fluorescence spectrometers.

He took up his post as Lecturer at the University of Bradford September 2016, originally as Lecturer in Polymer Characterisation before receiving a promotion to Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry in 2019. He was the Programme Lead for the BSc Chemistry Apprenticeship until January 2023, a level 6 training program for the Laboratory Scientist standard. He is also a co-investigator of the Project Cayman ERDF / Northern Powerhouse industrial collaboration funding designed to encourage access to academic expertise across the north of England.

Research

Polymer Chemistry

Doctor Swift studied his PhD in polymer chemistry at the University of Sheffield. He has synthetic expertise in self condensing vinyl polymerisation, controlled polymerisation (RAFT, ATRP, Cationic ring opening polymerisation). Doctor Swift is particularly interested in controlling the size and architecture of functional polymer materials and this requires advanced techniques to control the rates and direction of polymerisation reactions.

Polymer Physics

I am particularly interested in polymers as stimuli responsive materials, and so do research into the complex physics that drive their solution or solid state behaviour. One recent research interest has been the discovery that the pH responsive solution behaviour of poly(acrylic acid) is driven by pH.

Materials Interactions

Polymers interact with a range of other materials and Dr Swift is interested in the way polymers interact with each other or other components in solution.

Date Role Title / Description Funder Award
01-SEP-19 - 01-SEP-21Primary InvestigatorTime-Resolved Fluorescence Investigation of Polymer-Quenched Pyrene Labelled Stimuli Responsive Polymer Solutions with use as a Light Harvesting Accelerator
02-SEP-18 - 01-SEP-19Primary InvestigatorExamining Fundamental Issues in Isopropyl Oxazoline Cationic Ring Opening Polymer Synthesis
07-MAY-17 - 01-SEP-19Primary InvestigatorSolution Properties of Poly(oxazoline) materials

Teaching

Teaching interests

Research led teaching - I train students to gain new abilities, skills and insight to develop themselves as excellent researchers.

Teaching highlights

Programme Leader for BSc Chemistry Apprenticeship (2018 - 2023)

Co-ordinate and plan for our distance learning, industrially focused BSc Chemistry course.

In addition to this role I deliver on the following modules

                          

CFS4026-D - Practical Chemistry 1 - Module leader (2016 - 2020)

CFS7018-B - Materials Characterisation (35% module load)

CFS7028-B - Imaging (50% module load)

CFS7023-E - Research Project - Advanced Investigations (Module Leader 2016 - )

Past:

CFS5018-B - Physical Chemistry 2 (Colloids content - 2020 only)

And I have offered student research supervision for projects in the following modules:

CFS7005-E - Stage Four Research Project (MChem)

CFS7023-E - Research Project - Advanced Investigations 

BIS6026-D - Biomedical Science Research Project

BIS7005-E - Research Project (Biomedical Science)

ARC6025-D - Dissertation (Archeology)

Year Module code Title Subject
CFS7018-BMaterials Characterisation
CFS7019-BMaterials Characterisation (Distance Learning)
CFS7023-EResearch Project - Advanced Investigations

Professional activities

  • 01-JAN-10: University of York - MChem (Industry)
  • 01-JAN-14: University of Sheffield - PhD
  • 01-JAN-09: AkzoNobel - Research Scientist
  • Royal Society of Chemistry, Member
  • 01-DEC-17: Equality, Diversity and Opportunities Committee (EDOC),
  • 30-SEP-20: Recent Appointees in Polymer Science,
  • Bradford: Fellowship Mentor
  • General Administration: Co-covener of School Athena SWAN application.
  • Programme Leader: BSc Chemistry Apprenticeship

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal
TitleStabilisation of acrylic latexes containing silica nanoparticles for dirt repellent coating applications (2023)
AuthorsThomas Swift
JournalPolymer
PublisherElsevier
DOI10.1016/j.polymer.2023.125830
 
TitleInvestigation into the development of novel lanthanide-based luminescent colorants for application to textiles and paper materials (2023)
AuthorsD M Lewis, P J Broadbent, M L A Rigout, C M Carr*, C C Seaton, and T Swift
JournalColoration Technology
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/cote.12675
 
TitleChain-Extendable Crosslinked Hydrogels Using Branching RAFT Modification (2023)
AuthorsStephen Rimmer, Paul Spencer, Davide Nocita, John Sweeney, Marcus Harrison and Thomas Swift
JournalGels (Basel, Switzerland)
DOI10.3390/gels9030235
 
TitlePeristomal Skin Complications: New Materials Needed to Ease the Ostomy Care Market (2023)
AuthorsThomas Swift
JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology
DOI10.1093/bjd/ljad006
 
TitleEvaluation of ligand modified poly (N-Isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogel for etiological diagnosis of corneal infection (2022)
AuthorsThomas Swift, Sheila MacNeil, Stephen Rimmer, David Pownall, C. W. Ian Douglas, Prashant Garg, Nagaveni Shivshetty, Abigail Pinnock
JournalExperimental Eye Research
DOI10.1016/J.EXER.2021.108881
 
TitleFluorescence spectroscopy analysis of fly ash removal from aqueous systems: adsorption of alginate to silica and alumina (2022)
AuthorsFateh Eltaboni, Sehaj Singh, Linda Swanson, Thomas Swift, Abdulraheem SA Almaki
JournalRSC Soft Matter
DOI10.1039/D2SM00558A
 
TitleInterfacial Cocrystallization Using Oily Phase via Liquid−Liquid Phase Separation (2022)
AuthorsM. Asim Sajid Al-Hanafi, Mhd Bashir Alsirawan, Colin C. Seaton, Thomas Swift, Sudhir Pagire, Venu R. Vangala, Adrian L. Kelly, and Anant Paradkar
JournalCRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN (ONLINE)
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.2c00263
 
TitleGeneration and Use of Functional Hydrogels That Can Rapidly Sample Infected Surfaces (2022)
AuthorsThomas Swift, Abigail Pinnock, Nagaveni Shivshetty, David Pownall, Sheila MacNeil, Ian Douglas, Prashant Garg, Stephen Rimmer
JournalMethodsX
DOI10.1016/j.exer.2021.108881
 
TitleBranched amphotericin functional poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide): an antifungal polymer (2021)
AuthorsThomas Swift, Emily Caseley, Abbigail Pinnock, Joanna Shepherd, Nagaveni Shivshetty, Prashant Garg, C. W. Ian Douglas, Sheila MacNeil and Stephen Rimmer
JournalRoyal Society Open Science
DOI10.1098/rsos.201655
 
TitleDevelopment of a novel micro-bead force spectroscopy approach to measure the ability of a thermo-active polymer to remove bacteria from a corneal model (2021)
AuthorsJ. Pattem, T. Swift, S. Rimmer, T. Holmes, S. MacNeil & J. Shepherd
JournalScientific Reports
DOI10.1038/s41598-021-93172-1
 
TitleSemi-interpenetrating Polyurethane Network Foams Containing Highly Branched Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) with Vancomycin Functionality (2021)
AuthorsThomas Swift, Richard Hoskins, John Hicks, Edward Dyson, Marc Daignault, Dorothy Buckle, C. W. Ian Douglas, Sheila MacNeil, and Stephen Rimmer
JournalACS Applied Biomaterials
DOI10.1021/acsabm.1c00116
 
TitleFörster resonance energy transfer in fluorophore labeled poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s† (2020)
AuthorsRonald Merck Thomas Swift, Ryan Rees, Joachim F. R. Van Guyse, Ella Schoolaert, Karen De Clerck, Heidi Ottevaere, Hugo Thienpont, Valentin Victor Jerca and Richard Hoogenboom
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C
PublisherRoyal Society of Chemistry
DOI10.1039/D0TC02830D
 
TitleEffect of polymerisation by microwave on the physical properties of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) specific for caffeine (2020)
AuthorsHeli A. Brahmbhatt, Alexander Surtees, Cavan Tierney, Oluwabukunmi A. Ige, Elena V. Piletska, Thomas Swift and Nicholas W. Turner
JournalPolymer Chemistry
PublisherRoyal Society of Chemistry
DOI10.1039/D0PY00921K
 
TitleDevelopments in silicone technology for use in stoma care (2020)
AuthorsSwift T.;Westgate G.;Van Onselen J.;Lee S.
JournalBritish Journal of Nursing
DOI10.12968/bjon.2020.29.6.S6
 
TitleFluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Bacteria Mineral Interface Adsorption of Lipopolysaccharides to Silica and Alumina (2020)
AuthorsFateh El-Taboni, Emily Caseley, Maria Katsikogianni, Linda Swanson, Thomas Swift,* 4andMariaE.Romero-Gonzaĺez*
JournalLangmuir
PublisherAmerican chemical society
DOIdoi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02158
 
TitleA muscle mimetic polyelectrolyte–nanoclay organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogel: its self-healing, shape-memory and actuation properties (2019)
AuthorsBanerjee, S.L.; Swift, Thomas; Hoskins, Richard; Rimmer, Stephen; Singha, N.K.
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry B
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C8TB02852D
 
TitleOsteoinduction of 3D printed particulate and short-fibre reinforced composites produced using PLLA and apatite-wollastonite (2019)
AuthorsMelo P.;Ferreira A.;Waldron K.;Swift T.;Gentile P.;Magallanes M.;Marshall M.;Dalgarno K.
JournalComposites Science and Technology
DOI10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.107834
 
TitleShort phosphate glass fiber - PLLA composite to promote bone mineralization (2019)
AuthorsPriscila Melo, Emma Tarrant, Thomas Swift, Anthony Townshend, Matthew German, Ana-Marina Ferreira, Piergiorgio Gentile, Kenneth Dalgarno
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering C
PublisherElsevier
DOI10.1016/j.msec.2019.109929
 
TitleHighly-branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) functionalised with pendant Nile red and chain end vancomycin for the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (2019)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Katsikogianni, Maria G.; Hoskins, Richard; Teratarantorn, P.; Douglas, I.; MacNeil, S.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalActa Biomaterialia
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.066
 
TitleHighly branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) functionalized with an inducer molecule suppresses quorum sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum (2019)
AuthorsShepherd, J.; Swift, Thomas; Chang, Chien-Yi; Boyne, J.R.; Rimmer, Stephen; Martin, William H.C.
JournalChemical Communications
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C9CC02524C
 
TitleHighly-ordered onion micelles made from amphiphilic highly-branched copolymers (2018)
AuthorsCanning, S.L.; Ferner, J.M.F.; Mangham, N.M.; Wear, T.J.; Reynolds, S.W.; Morgan, J.; Fairclough, J.P.A.; King, S.M.; Swift, Thomas; Geoghegan, M.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalPolymer Chemistry
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C8PY00800K
 
TitleA self-healable fluorescence active hydrogel based on ionic block copolymers prepared via ring opening polymerization and xanthate mediated RAFT polymerization (2018)
AuthorsBanerjee, S.L.; Hoskins, Richard; Swift, Thomas; Rimmer, Stephen; Singha, N.K.
JournalPolymer Chemistry
DOIdoi.org/10.1039/C7PY01883E
 
TitleSegmental mobility studies of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) interactions with gold nanoparticles and its use as a thermally driven trapping system (2018)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Rehman, K.; Surtees, Alexander P.H.; Hoskins, Richard; Hickey, Stephen G.
JournalMacromolecular Rapid Communications
DOIdoi.org/10.1002/marc.201800090
 
TitleAntibiotic functionalised polymers reduce bacterial biofilm and bioburden in a simulated infection of the cornea (2018)
AuthorsDoroshenko, N.; Rimmer, Stephen; Hoskins, Richard; Garg, P.; Swift, Thomas; Spencer, H.L.M.; Lord, Rianne M.; Katsikogianni, Maria G.; Pownall, D.; MacNeil, S.; Douglas, C.W.I.; Shepherd, J.
JournalBiomaterials Science
DOIdoi.org/10.1039/C8BM00201K
 
TitleFörster Resonance Energy Transfer across interpolymer complexes of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(acrylamide) (2017)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Paul, N.; Swanson, L.; Katsikogianni, Maria G.; Rimmer, Stephen
 
TitleAnalysis Using Size Exclusion Chromatography of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) using Methanol as an Eluent (2017)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Hoskins, Richard; Telford, Richard; Plenderleith, R.A.; Pownall, David; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalJournal of Chromatography A
DOIdoi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2017.05.050
 
TitlePseudo electron-deficient organometallics: limited reactivity towards electron-donating ligands (2017)
AuthorsPitto-Barry, Anaïs; Lupan, A.; Zegke, Markus; Swift, Thomas; Attia, A.A.A.; Lord, Rianne M.; Barry, Nicolas P.E.
JournalDalton Transactions
DOIdoi.org/10.1039/C7DT02827J
 
TitlePoly(acrylic acid) interpolymer complexes (2017)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Seaton, Colin C.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalRSC Soft Matter
 
TitleBinding of bacteria to poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) modified with vancomycin: Comparison of behavior of linear and highly branched polymers (2017)
AuthorsTeratanatorn, P.; Hoskins, Richard; Swift, Thomas; Douglas, C.W.I.; Shepherd, J.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalBiomacromolecules
DOIdoi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00800
 
TitleCore (Polystyrene)−Shell [Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)] Particles (2017)
AuthorsMckenzie, A.; Hoskins, Richard; Swift, Thomas; Grant, Colin A.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalACS APPLIED MATERIALS AND INTERFACES
DOIdoi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b15004
 
TitleThe effect of hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid)s on the morphology and size of precipitated nanoscale (fluor)hydroxyapatite (2017)
AuthorsShallcross, L.; Roche, K.; Wilcock, C.J.; Stanton, K.T.; Swift, Thomas; Rimmer, Stephen; Hatton, P.V.; Spain, S.G.
 
TitlepH Responsive Highly Branched Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with Trihistidine or Acid Chain Ends (2016)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Lapworth, J.; Swindells, K.; Swanson, L.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalRSC Advances
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA13139E
 
TitleThe pH-responsive behaviour of poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution is dependent on molar mass (2016)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Swanson, L.; Geoghegan, M.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalRSC Soft Matter
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C5SM02693H
 
TitleMeasuring poly(acrylamide) flocculants in fresh water using inter-polymer complex formation (2015)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Swanson, L.; Bretherick, A.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalEnvironmental Science: Water Research And Technology
DOIdoi.org/10.1039/C4EW00092G
 
TitlePoly(acrylic acid) interpolymer complexation: use of a fluorescence time resolved anisotropy as a poly(acrylamide) probe (2014)
AuthorsSwift, Thomas; Swanson, L.; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalRSC Advances
 
TitleHighly-branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)s with core-shell morphology below the lower critical solution temperature (2014)
AuthorsPlenderleith, R.A.; Swift, Thomas; Rimmer, Stephen
JournalRSC Advances
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA10076J
 
Book Chapters
TitlepH Dependence of Acrylate-Derivative Polyelectrolyte Properties (2019)
AuthorsThomas Swift
JournalAcrylate Polymers for Advanced Applications
PublisherIntechOpen
DOI10.5772/intechopen.82569
 
Conference Contributions
AuthorsThomas Swift
 
AuthorsThomas Swift, Richard Hoskins, Stephen Rimmer
 
AuthorsThomas Swift, Linda Swanson, Stephen Rimmer
 
AuthorsSwift, Thomas, Stephen Rimmer, Linda Swanson