EDUCATION:

PGCAPHE |  Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA) | 2025

PGCAPHE | Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) | 2023

PhD in Chemistry | Rhodes University, South Africa | 2014

MSc in Nanoscience | University of Nottingham, United Kingdom | 2008

BSc in Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria  | 2:1 | 2007

• Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee, November 2023 - date
• Baxter Fellow in Forensic Chemistry (Teaching & Research), University of Dundee, March 2020 - November 2023
• Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Dundee, LRCFS, Jan 2018 - Feb 2020
• Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Oct 2017 – Nov 2017
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, UK, Jan 2017 – September 2017
• JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Japan, Nov 2014 – Nov 2016
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Jan 2014 – Nov 2014

SHORT BIOGRAPHY:

As a Senior Lecturer (Teaching and Research) in Materials Science and Forensic Chemistry at the University of Dundee, I bring over 14 years of international experience in interdisciplinary research, academic leadership, and technological innovation. My work focuses on the design and development of advanced nanomaterials for electrochemical and fluorescence-based sensors, with applications spanning biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, and forensic detection.

I lead an active research group focused on developing sensitive and selective nanosensor platforms by integrating nanostructures with molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs), antibodies, aptamers, and surface-functionalised composite materials. This experimental work is complemented by advanced computational modelling to optimise sensor design and enhance molecular recognition.

My expertise in molecular modelling includes:

1.     Molecular docking and binding energy prediction for aptamer–target and monomer–template systems using AutoDock, Vina, and PyRx
2.     DFT and TDDFT simulations to evaluate electronic structure, HOMO–LUMO gaps, and photoelectronic properties
3.     Quantum ESPRESSO for self consistent field (SCF) calculations, geometry optimisation, and surface interaction analyses
4.     ASE (Atomic Simulation Environment) for automated workflows, nanocluster generation, and thermodynamic assessments
5.     Simulating electrostatic potential maps, ligand exchange energetics, and quantum confinement effects

In addition to modelling, I have significant expertise in:

1.     Electrochemical characterisation (CV, DPV, SWV, EIS, amperometry, etc)
2.     Photochemical energy application including water splitting
3.     Surface engineering and nanofabrication for biosensing platforms
4.     Construction of MIP-based sensors, graphene-based composites, and metal–semiconductor nanohybrids

FUNDING:

1: Awarding Body: Medical Research Council (MRC), UK

Project Name: Improving outcomes for children exposed to opioids in pregnancy across the world: an international longitudinal administrative data study

Funding Type: Future Leaders Fellowship

Grant Number: MR/X035638/1

Project start date/end date: 01/10/2024 to 30/09/2028

Role: Co-I

2. Awarding Body: Royal Society

Title of Research Project: Oxide Semiconductor doped Quantum dots Nanogels as Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Probes for Disease Diagnostics

Type: Research Grant

Grant Number: RG\R2\232243

Start Date: December 2023

End Date: June 2025

Position: PI

3. Awarding Body: EPSRC

Title of Research Project: Molecularly Imprinted Heavy Metal-free Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Probes for Rapid and Accurate Detection of Viruses

Type: New Investigator Award

Grant number: EP/X029956/1

Start Date: April 2023

Duration: 3 years

Position: PI

4. Awarding Body: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Title of Research Project: Heavy Metal-free Quantum Dots Aptamer-beacon Fluorescence Biosensor for SARS-COV-2 Detection in Saliva

Type: Research Enablement Grant

Grant number: E22-7965264821

Start Date: 1st September 2022

Duration: 1 year

Position: PI

5. Awarding Body: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa

Title of Research Project: Development of Novel Fluorescent Sensors for the Screening of Emerging Chemical Pollutants in Water

Type: Research Grant

Grant number: K5‐2438

Year of Award and Duration: 2015 – 2018

Position: Co-I

6. Awarding Body: Photonics Initiative of South Africa (PISA), South Africa

Title of Research Project: Novel Photonics Sensor Materials for Screening of Environmental Pollutants.

Type: Research Grant

Grant number: PISA‐15‐DIR‐06

Year of Award and Duration: 2015 - 2017

Position: Co-I

7. Awarding Body: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan

Title of Research Project: Construction of Virus Detection Platform using Nanocomposites-displayed Molecular Beacon Probe

Type: JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Grant number: 26-04354

Year of Award and Duration: 2014 - 2016

Position: PI

8. Awarding Body: National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa

Title of Research Project: Development of Novel Nanomaterial Composites for Fluorescence Sensors

Type: Research Grant

Grant number: 93394

Year of Award and Duration: 2015 - 2016

Position: Co-I

9. Awarding Body: National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa

Award Type: Equipment-related Travel and Training Grants

Grant number: 150313

Year of Award: 2014

Position: Co-I

10. Awarding Body: Claude Leon Foundation, South Africa

Title of Research Project: Construction of a Pollutant Detection Platform using Nanocomposites Quantum Dot Core-Multishell-Graphene Nanosheet Sensors

Type: Claude Leon Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Year of Award: 2014

Position: PI

11. Awarding Body: University of Pretoria, South Africa

Title of Research Project: Application of Quantum Dots for the Novel Environmental Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Derivatives

Type: University of Pretoria Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Year of Award: 2014

Position: PI

• Synthesis and characterization of engineered functional advanced nanomaterials for biosensing and energy applications
• Development of aptameric and immuno colorimetric, fluorescent and electrochemical nanobiosensors.
• Development of functional nanozymes for catalytic colorimetric biosensor assays.
• Development of nanomaterial-based molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposites for fluorescence and electrochemical sensing applications.
• Development of advance nanocomposite systems for solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting.