Experienced biosciences researcher and tutor, teaching Science (Chemistry/Biology/Physics) to all ages. Complex topics taught in a fun and engaging way!

Ian gave our teenager a few GCSE-level tutorials in Chemistry - by far her least favourite subject and the one, judging by the mock exam grades, with the highest risk of failure. After reluctantly agreeing to a first tutorial, she admitted that this was helpful and even quite enjoyable to the extent that she agreed to subsequent tutorials without hesitation. As of today, she has sat both GCSE Chemistry exams and is confident of a positive outcome - something unimaginable just a few weeks ago. The secret of Ian's success is that, unlike her chemistry lessons at school, he focussed on understanding of basic principles and imaginatively chose examples that appealed to her interests. Highly recommended!

I have had the privilege of knowing Ian for several years in both professional and academic capacities. Ian is an exceptional educator whose dedication to teaching and mentoring is truly inspiring. His teaching style is engaging, clear, and tailored to the needs of his students, making complex topics approachable and enjoyable to learn.
I highly recommend Ian to the Superprof community. His professionalism, enthusiasm, and commitment to his students' success are unparalleled, and anyone who works with him will undoubtedly benefit greatly.

I am writing in support of Dr Ian application to be a SuperProf. My qualification to evaluate Ian’s worthiness as your potential tutor is based upon the work that we conducted collaboratively during his graduate education in nucleic acids biochemistry in Professor Jane Grasby’s lab at the University of Sheffield from 2014 to 2018. For context, I worked at the University of Sheffield in the Grasby laboratory from 2011 to 2022.

Overall, Ian impressed me with his abilities in the laboratory and his understanding of complex chemical and biochemical concepts. As a graduate student, he led a difficult project involving the assignment and biophysical characterisation of the dynamics of human flap endonuclease 1 (hFEN1), a metallonuclease involved in DNA replication and repair, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This project was fraught with issues of long-term stability of hFEN1 necessary for the collection of high-quality NMR spectra. Despite this, Ian persevered by trying a plethora of solution conditions and found that only a high concentration of one specific reducing agent was able to stabilise the protein for NMR spectroscopic measurements. With this, we were able to collect impeccable data to characterise the dynamics of the proteins, which enhanced our understanding of the hFEN1 mechanism and catalytic cycle. In addition to work directly related to his thesis, Ian assisted in several other projects that merited authorship on two other papers from the Grasby laboratory.

During his time in the Grasby lab, I observed Ian interacting with other students (undergraduate, masters, and graduate) and can attest to his ability to teach theoretical concepts and techniques to others. When teaching, he showed his ability to breakdown complex concepts and procedures into manageable bits to which students responded well. I believe this is the experience you are seeking; therefore, I emphatically recommend to be a superprof.

L. David, Ph.D.
Senior Chemical Analyst
FabricNano Ltd.

Ian is an outstanding tutor and academic with a wealth of experience in both research and teaching. His background, which includes roles at prestigious Russell Group and internationally recognized universities in the UK, is complemented by his enthusiastic, engaging, and supportive approach. I had the pleasure of assisting in several of his academic sessions, where he demonstrated excellent planning and time management, all while remaining attuned to the students' needs. Ian excels at breaking down complex topics, reflecting his deep subject expertise and genuine care for his students’ learning experience, which greatly boosts their confidence in the material. I highly recommend Ian to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and encouraging tutor!

I have known Ian for many years as a fellow academic and have seen firsthand his exceptional teaching abilities. He has a strong command of his subject area and a genuine passion for sharing knowledge. Observing him teach, I can confidently say that he brings both experience and expertise to every session, making complex concepts accessible for learners at all levels. Ian’s supportive, patient nature fosters an encouraging environment where questions and curiosity are always welcomed. I have no doubt that Ian's knowledge and dedication make him an outstanding choice for anyone eager to learn and improve.