Queens University Belfast
University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN
DIRECTORY OF SKILLS AND EXPERTISE /
College Contact Point for Innovation Voucher Enquires:
Please contact Michael McCleave , Queens University Belfast for all enquiries related to Innovation Vouchers
Michael McCleave +44 48 90974279
Department/Unit / Specific services offered / Contact Name / Address / Telephone / E-Mail addressSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Organometallic Chemistry
Fluorine Chemistry
Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Wastewater Treatment / Dr Graham Saunders / David Keir Building / 048 9097 4682 /
Inorganic Chemical Synthesis / Dr Nick Fletcher / As Above / 048 9097 5479 /
Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy / Dr Nick Fletcher / As Above / 048 9097 5479 /
Chiral Separation / Dr Nick Fletcher / As Above / 048 9097 5479 /
Oligonucleotide synthesis (RNA and DNA) / Jennifer McClean
Dr Joseph Vyle / As Above / 048 9097 5485 /
Oligonucleotide thermal stability (duplex and triplex) / Jennifer McClean
Dr Joseph Vyle / As Above / 048 9097 5485 /
HPLC (IX and RP) / Jennifer McClean
Dr Joseph Vyle / As Above / 048 9097 5485 /
Radiolabelling with beta-emitters (32P and 35S) / Dr Joseph Vyle / As Above / 048 9097 5485 /
Raman spectroscopy- expertise/consultancy and ability to record test data. / Dr Steven Bell / As Above / 048 9097 4470 /
Expertise in preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces. / Dr Steven Bell / As Above / 048 9097 4470 /
fluorescence spectroscopy, sensor design, molecular logic / Professor Amira de Silva / As Above / 048 9097 4422 /
A.S.E.P / David Keir Building
Environmental monitoring including: VOC, dust, isocyanate, combustion gases, metals, acid gases etc. in situ from stacks, boilers, incinerators, solvent recovery plants etc. or background / workplace surveys
Air quality assessments
Air quality input into environmental impact assessments
QC / QA measurements
Health and safety / personal exposure / ambient air quality monitoring
Instrumental techniques including NMR. XPS, XRD, EITOF, ElectrosprayTOF, MALDITOF, FITR, UVVIS, NIR, IR, IC, CHN, BET, ICP
Water quality monitoring including industrial effluents. / Dr Robin Patrick
Trevor Sewell / 048 9097 5579
048 9097 5580 /
Institute of Agri-food and Land Use / Professor Chris Elliott / David Keir Building / 048 9097 6549 /
Advisory service relating to issues concerning chemical contamination of the agri-food chain including fresh and marine waters.
Development of rapid techniques capable of detecting a broad range of chemical contaminants in agricultural commodities, foods and water.
Development of strategies to identify causes of agri-fdd conmtaination and develop preventaitive measures / Professor Chris Elliott / David Keir Building / 048 9097 6549 /
Advisory service relating to microbiological food safety issues and the wider 'Farm to Fork' strategy, Particular emphysis on Mycobacterium paratuberculosis issues and other emerging pathogens. / Dr Irene Grant / Medical Biology Centre / 048 9097 2109 /
Advisory service relating to concerns of chemical contaminants (drugs) covering the food chain from 'Farm-to-Fork'. Development of rapid detection tools for mornitoring contaminants in agri-food products.
Advisory service concerning relation between health, food safety and quality including issues of natural products and/or healthn related products (nutraceuticals). Development of food for improving health and preventing disease. / Dr Chen Situ / David Keir Building / 048 9097 6542 /
Expertise in the discipline of binding protein technology encompassing both antibodies and cellular receptors in food safety applications.
Development of new technologies to detect the broadening range of new and emerging chemical food and water contaminants created by modern day living / Dr Lisa Connolly / David Keir Building / 048 9097 6668 /
ECIT, The Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology / Mr Conor Quinn / Northern Ireland Science Park, Queens Road, Queens Island / 048 9097 1749 /
Consultancy Services, targeting the following applications / · Network security
· Advanced wireline networks
· Wireless communications
· Computer speech systems
· Biometric identification and forensics
· Video surveillance
· Video processing
· Image processing
· Electronic medical devices
· Automotive electronics
Design Services / · Microwave systems engineering
· Radio system engineering
· Antenna design
· Electromagnetic modelling
· Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (MMIC) design
· Network modelling
· Digital design (VHDL, Verilog) for FPGA and ASIC
· Embedded systems engineering
· Embedded software development
· Video processing algorithm development
· Speech and audio processing algorithm development
· High performance computing software development
Measurement characterisation and fabrication facilities / · Full range of RF and microwave measurement systems including signal generators, network analysers and power meters
· Far field and near field anechoic chambers
· Reverberation chamber
· Network systems lab
· IP Video security lab
· Audio systems lab
· Small scale PCB prototyping fabrication
o Wire bonding
o SMD pick and place
· Millimetre wave lab supporting on-chip measurements to 110GHz and quasi-optical measurement to 700GHz
Queen's University Management School
· Business consultancy:
· Business Development
· Consumer Behaviour
· Economics
· Entrepreneurship
· Environmental Management
· Financial Management
· Industrial Relations
· Information Systems
· Innovation
· Investment and Venture Capital
· Leadership and Change
· Management
· Managing New Product
· Marketing
· Supply Chain Management
· Sustainability / Miss Karen Close / 25 University Square, Belfast, BT7 1NN / 048 9097 5126 /
School of Mathematics & Physics
Electron Microscopy Facility Centre for Nanostructured Media(CNM):
Expertise in Electron Microscopy and Related Techniques for surface and cross sectional investigation
of materials at Micron and Nanometer level using some of the most modern equipment available on the Island of Ireland. Analysis available also includes both qualitative & quantitative chemical measurements. Track record in working with over 100 Companies on both short/long term projects. For list of equipment & applications see "Facilities we have" & "Microscopy we use" at "CNM" http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofMathematicsandPhysics/con/microscopy.html / Stephen McFarland / 048 9097 3563 /
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Finite Element modelling (especially of polymers and polymer manufacturing processes) / Dr. Gary Menary / Ashby Building / 048 9097 4780 /
Product Design and development / Mr Paul Hermon / Ashby Building / 048 9097 4499 /
Northern Ireland Technology Centre
• 3D manufacturing simulation
• Advanced manufacturing technologies
• Business process re-engineering
• CADCAM and CAD services
• Consultancy services
• Design of special purpose machinery
• Design for manufacturing
• Digital engineering
• Electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and services
• Factory simulation
• Finite element analysis
• Product lifecycle management technologies
• Product and process design and development
• Rapid prototyping
• Rapid Manufacturing
• Regulatory Compliance
• Structural testing and assessment
• Virtual engineering and manufacturing / Mr Tom Edgar / Cloreen Park / 048 9097 5433 /
Polymer Processing Research Centre & Medical Polymers Research Institute / Ms Denise Price / 048 9097 4706 /
Extrusion / The extrusion facilities offered include:
· One, two, three, four and five layer tube line;
· One, two, three, four and five layer sheet;
· One, two, three, four and five layer cast film line;
· One, two and three blown line;
· Twin screw compounding;
· Granulation
· Two roll mill and platen press
These resources are used in a number of current research programmes including the following:
· Flexible films – consumer / agricultural /healthcare applications;
· Tubes – medical device / beverage dispense / automotive / telecoms applications;
· Sheet – construction / medical device . thermoforming / food packaging / military application / Mr Alan Clarke / 048 9097 4710 /
Moulding / Moulding facilities include:
· Ferry RS 1600 carousel rotational moulding machine;
· Caccia 1400A shuttle rotational moulding machine;
· Wedco SE 12 UR grinding machine;
· Direct Electrical rotational moulding machine;
· Caccia High Speed blending machine;
· Rotolog temperature measurement system;
· Datapaq temperature monitoring system;
· Arburg 320 50S injection moulder with gas assist unit.
· Mini-injection moulder
The Centres are particularly active in process development of multi-layer structures and development of new mPE grades as well as material sintering / densification studies and foaming technology and engage in research into different rotational moulding processes including:
· Cycle time reduction;
· Process monitoring and control;
· Novel mould tooling technology;
· Direct electrical heating;
· Ceramic coagulation Rotomoulding;
· In mould cooling;
· In mould pressurization;
· Material grinding;
· Computer simulation / Shrinkage modelling; / Mr Mark Kearns / 048 9097 4711 /
Analysis and Testing / As well as the usual Mechanical Testing techniques to establish tensile, flexural, and compressive and impact properties, the Centres have a suite of equipment enabling the following specialist investigative techniques to be undertaken.
· DSC - Thermal technique used for the characterisation of properties such as percentage crystallinity and heat of reaction, transitions such as melting and crystallisation temperatures and identification of material components.
· DMTA - Thermal-mechanical technique used for mechanical assessment of materials from –150 to 300ºC and for the identification of transitions such as glass transition temperature.
· FTIR - Identification of material components, multilayer structures, blends and contaminants.
· MFI, Dual Capillary Rheometer and Rotational Rheometer - Rheological techniques used for determination of material viscosity at different temperatures and shear rates. Can be used to study melt fracture, degradation, die swell and multilayer component compatibility.
· Permeation - O2, CO2 and Water Vapour transmission rates through packaging films, pouches, closures and bottles.
· Quartz Crystal Microbalance - allows measuremenst for real-time studies of surface processes such as adhesion, adsorption and changes of mass and visco-elsticity in ultra-thin films.
· Hot stage polarising microscope - used for the optical investigation of polymer strauctures, materials and additives.
· UV/VIS Spectrophotometer - allows liquid analysis with a variety of operation modes including scanning, time drive, rate, wavelength and quantitative analysis.
· Dynamic Contact Angle - used to measure forces that affect the interaction of solids and liquids.
· Sphere Spectrophotometer - use dto give preciise and accurate colour measurement information.
· High Performance Liquid Chromatography - used in conjunction with UV detection system to quantify a wide range of pharmaceutical agenst with accuracy and high sensitivity.
· Environmental Test Chamber - use dto analyse the effect of different environmental condtions on the performance of polymeric biomaterials.
The Centres also have facilities to determine the coefficient of friction of films and analyse the surface energy of polymeric materials. / Dr Bronagh Millar / 048 9097 4708 /
School of Pharmacy / Professor Sean Gorman / Medical Biology Centre / 048 9097 5800 /
Antibody/antigen design strategies / Dr Chris Scott / 048 9097 2350 /
Assay development and validation: ELISAs, chromogenic and fluorogenic assays.
Measurement of inflammatory markers in disease: clinical trials and research studies.
Protease analysis and characterisation, / Dr Lorraine Martin / 048 9097 5711 /
Medical Devices / Implants / Professor Sean Gorman / 048 9097 5800 /
Assay development, Peptide Synthesis, Protease assays, peptide sequencing / Professor Brian Walker / 048 9097 2117 /
Transdermal and topical drug dleivery, design & characterisation of polymeric drug delivery systems, photodynamic therapy / Dr Ryan Donnelly / 048 9097 2251 /
UV-visible, infrared, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, confocal microscopy
Fluorescence spectroscopy, pre-formulation studies, tensile testing and physicochemical / Dr Colin P McCoy / 048 9097 2081 /
Hot Melt Extrusion
Thermogravimmetric Analysis
Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis
Dynamic Vapour Sorption
Rheology
PXRD / Dr Gavin Andrews / 048 9097 2646 /
Culture/non-culture detection of bacteria
Antimicrobial susceptibility assays
Molecular characterisation/typing of bacteria (Pulsed field gel electrophoresis) / Dr Michael Tunney / 048 90972087 /
Microbiological Assays, Biofilm Susceptibility Assay, Protease Assays, Peptide Synthesis / Dr Brendan Gilmore / 04890 972305 /
freeze-drying; thermal analysis (DSC, TGA) / Dr Vicky Kett / 048 9007 2008 /
Nanoparticles – their design and manufacture
Nanoparticulate size characterisation
Nanoparticulate drug delivery / Dr Paul McCarron / 04890972261 /
Clinical & Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy / Pharmacokinetic advice & analyses / Professor Paul Collier / 048 9097 2009 /
School of Psychology / David Keir Building
Animal Behaviour Centre / Expertise in: animal welfare (particularly companion animals), human-animal bond, pets and human health, dog aggression, pet behaviour therapy / Dr Deborah Wells / 048 9097 4386 /
Immersive interactive Virtual Reality, Human factors analysis, Virtual product testing, Human movement analysis / Dr Cathy Craig / 048 9097 5482 /
QUESTOR / Dr Wilson McGarel / David Keir Building / 048 9097 5577 /
· Waste Management, Life Cycle Assessment, Energy Conversion
· Biocatalysis; Biodegradation; Environmental Microbiology; Microbial Biochemistry
· Adsorption, Constructed Wetlands
· Biotransformation and synthetic chemistry of chiral molecules
· Electrochemistry
· Contaminated land and role and fate of contaminants in the environment
· Microbiology, Virology, Bioinformatics
· Transition metal and organic synthesis towards molecular recognition
· Membrane Separation, Membrane Reactor, Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering, Nanoparticles for protein/gene delivery
· Environmental Management
· Biological aspects of waste and wastewater treatment: activated sludge, fixed film processes, membrane bioreactors, nitrification, toxicity.
· Anaerobic digestion, composting, waste to energy, renewable energies, value-added products from waste.
· Process design and development, product validation, on-site and laboratory trials. Applications of membrane processes: MF, UF, NF, RO, MBRs.
· Microbial Function: Environment, Stress and Toxicology
· Bio fuels
· Inorganic chemistry; co-ordination chemistry, porous materials
· Genetics and Molecular Biology of environmentally significant microorganisms
· Inorganic and co-ordination chemistry; sensors
· Microbiology, genetics and biochemistry of pollutant biodegradation and processes in the environment