Rob Smith is Associate Dean (Standards and Quality ) in the School of Engineering and Computing at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and is group leader for the Smith Group.
Rob received a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry from UCLan, a Ph.D from the University of Surrey (with Dr Ian D. Cunningham), and was then a post-doctoral fellow at NTU (with Prof. James Davis). In 2008, Rob was appointed as Lecturer in Organic Medicinal Chemistry and in 2012 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer. In 2017, Rob was promoted to Principal Lecturer in charge of Student Experience within the School of Physical Sciences and Computing and in 2020 he was appointed as the Deputy Head of Natural Sciences (Students and Teaching). Currently Rob is Associate Dean (Standards and Quality) in the School of Engineering and Computing .
During his time at UCLan, Rob has been admissions tutor for chemistry, course leader for both the BSc (Hons) Chemistry and MChem Chemistry degree programs, as well as team lead for chemistry. In 2012, Rob was awarded the Vice-Chancellors Award Excellence in Research and Informed Teaching and Learning and in 2019 Rob was awarded the Dyers Company Research Medal for his work on the development of near infrared probes.
Rob's main research focus is in the area of synthetic medicinal chemistry with much of the research focused towards the development of dyes and probes towards healthcare applications. Rob's research also looks at designing new phototherapeutic antimicrobials as well as molecules for theranostics.
Rob received a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry from UCLan, a Ph.D from the University of Surrey (with Dr Ian D. Cunningham), and was then a post-doctoral fellow at NTU (with Prof. James Davis). In 2008, Rob was appointed as Lecturer in Organic Medicinal Chemistry and in 2012 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer. In 2017, Rob was promoted to Principal Lecturer in charge of Student Experience within the School of Physical Sciences and Computing and in 2020 he was appointed as the Deputy Head of Natural Sciences (Students and Teaching). Currently Rob is Associate Dean (Standards and Quality) in the School of Engineering and Computing .
During his time at UCLan, Rob has been admissions tutor for chemistry, course leader for both the BSc (Hons) Chemistry and MChem Chemistry degree programs, as well as team lead for chemistry. In 2012, Rob was awarded the Vice-Chancellors Award Excellence in Research and Informed Teaching and Learning and in 2019 Rob was awarded the Dyers Company Research Medal for his work on the development of near infrared probes.
Rob's main research focus is in the area of synthetic medicinal chemistry with much of the research focused towards the development of dyes and probes towards healthcare applications. Rob's research also looks at designing new phototherapeutic antimicrobials as well as molecules for theranostics.