Ian is an Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry. He studied Chemistry here, at Bristol where, in 1993, he was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry. Subsequently, he remained to study for a PhD under the guidance of Professor Richard Evershed, as a member of the Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU), developing new molecular methods for characterising organic matter and processes in soils and sediments. He was awarded his doctorate in 1998 and continued in the OGU as a NERC funded postdoctoral researcher studying trophic preferences of soil invertebrates and the uptake of methane by bacteria in soils. The latter resulting in a communication that was published in Nature in 2000. About this time, he became the manager of the Bristol node of the NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility, hosted by the OGU. Remaining in this post, he was promoted to Research Fellow in 2007. In 2019 he became Head of the National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF) – Bristol Laboratory and in 2022 was promoted from Research Fellow to Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry. Ian lives with his wife Claire and, in September 2019 both became parents to a daughter, Laila-Mae. Subsequently in late 2020, during the pandemic, Ian contracted Necrotising fasciitis which he fortunately survived although it did result in the amputation of his left hand. He returned to full-time work after a four-month period of recovery and continues as an active academic lead in the OGU. He conducts research and teaches in the fields of Archaeological Chemistry, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Chemistry as well as delivering more general analytical chemistry as part of the core units of the Chemistry programmes.

"Laila-Mae was a sudden and unexpected addition to our family. I will never cease to be amazed and grateful for the lengths to which the University went to support us. This ranged from ad hoc arrangement of an equivalent to maternity leave for my wife where there was no pre-existing policy in place to arranging for Laila-Mae’s entry into the University Day Nursery at extremely short notice. Even today, neither Claire nor I are sure how we would have coped without the help and understanding of the University."

"Returning to work after a major illness is both relieving but also somewhat daunting. The School of Chemistry and, more widely, the University acted above and beyond to ensure that my transition back to work was as smooth and painless as possible. Actions included a phased-return to full-time work, provision of disabled parking and supply of cutting-edge dictation software to compensate for my impaired ability to type. Nowadays, I commonly forget that I have a disability, such is the degree of support that I have received, and I greatly appreciate the normalcy that this has brought back to my working life."