Our Team Members

Professor Ritu. Kataky


Ritu is a professor of electrochemistry and analytical chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University.  She achieved her PhD at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. She has served as the past chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry Electroanalytical group and Vice Chair of the Analytical Division of the International Society for Electrochemistry.  Her research is focused on the development and fundamental chemistry of sensors and sensing strategies using mainly electrochemical methods.

Dr. Heather Allinson


Heather joined Durham University in 2010 after 13 years in industry in blue chip and private equity environments in research and technical marketing. Following roles in knowledge transfer, Heather joined the Technology Transfer team in 2017 and supports academics to commercialise their ideas and inventions. Heather studied for a PhD at Manchester University in the physical properties of liquid crystal materials. She has experience in the polymers, displays, and signage sectors.

Dr. Chris Howell

He has transitioned from a technical role to business development, with a particular focus on innovation and market disruptive technologies. He specialises in assisting businesses to take their ideas from concept through to fruition by facilitating University services and funding, providing advice and guidance at each step. With experience in both industry and various academic institutions, he endeavours to support businesses wanting to work with universities and the relationship to be mutually beneficial for all parties.

Dr. Niloofar Haghighian


Niloofar has a PhD in Material Science and Technology from the Physics Department of Genova University (Italy). During her PhD, she worked on ”Graphene Plasmonic’. She has been a postdoc researcher at IOM-CNR Trieste (Italy) before joining Durham University in 2019. Niloofar is a Research Associate in the Chemistry Department and works on the biofilm project.

Professor Karl Coleman


Karl is Professor of Nanomaterials and Head of Chemistry at Durham University, having previously been in the chemistry department at the University of Oxford and Université de Strasbourg. He is the Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology subject group. Karl achieved a PhD in chemistry at the University of Leicester in 1996 and is a Chartered Chemist, Chartered Scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Dr Gary Sharples


Gary studied microbiology at the University of Glasgow before moving to the University of Nottingham for a PhD in bacterial genetics. This and subsequent work as a Royal Society University Research Fellow involved structural and functional analyses of helicases and endonucleases that initiate, process and resolve branched DNA recombination intermediates in bacteria and bacteriophages. These enzymes are critical for efficient DNA replication and generate the exchanges and rearrangements that fuel evolution. He moved to Durham University in 2001, expanding his research interests into new antibacterial agents and surfaces, including projects with Procter & Gamble on the mechanism of action of chelating agents to combat a range of problematic bacterial species. He is an Associate Professor in Biosciences, based in the Department of Chemistry.