Profile
Graeme Barker
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About Me:
I live in Edinburgh with my other half. I have a job as a chemistry lecturer, and I enjoy running, hillwalking and listening to music. I also love cooking, but I’m not very good at it!
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I’m a chemistry lecturer at Heriot-Watt University, and I live in Edinburgh with my partner who is also a scientist. I grew up in Kirkcaldy and went to university in St Andrews before moving south for a few years. I studied for a PhD (doctorate) in York, then worked in Sheffield for a while before coming back to Scotland.
When not at work, I enjoy hillwalking (I’ve completed around 130 Munros) as well as cross country and hill running. I love listening to music and attending gigs – I have pretty broad taste, and like anything like rock, blues, indie and heavy metal (but not jazz – it’s just glorified showing off). I also really like cooking, though I’m not that great at it!
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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My Work:
I am a chemistry lecturer at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. In addition to teaching chemistry, I do research into developing new drugs for treating heart disease and new, more efficient ways of making medicines.
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I’m a chemistry lecturer at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Broadly speaking, my work is divided into two halves – teaching and research.
My teaching revolves around organic and pharmaceutical chemistry – the way we build useful molecules, and applying this knowledge to the development of new medicines. I teach organic chemistry lectures to 2nd and 4th year undergraduates, and pharmaceutical chemistry to 3rd and 4th years. I also teach 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate laboratory classes and small group problem solving sessions.
My research focusses on the same areas: I develop new organic reactions using highly reactive chemicals called organometallics – some are so reactive they catch fire on contact with air! I also work with biologists to develop new medicines for treating heart and lung diseases. Most of my practical research is done by my group of postgraduate students and final year undergraduates.
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My Typical Day:
I have a quick breakfast before getting to work by bus and arriving around 8:30 am. In the morning I teach students or visit my researchers in the lab. I have a quick lunch at my desk, before more teaching and research in the afternoon. I go home around 6:00 pm.
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I usually get up around 7:00 am, have breakfast and take the bus to work, arriving on campus around 8:30. I check my emails and which classes and meeting I have that day. I usually try to visit my research group in the laboratory, and catch up on which experiments they have been doing. If I’m not teaching a class, I can normally be found in my office, preparing material for my next class, or writing my group’s results into a scientific paper.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would buy a video camera for recording short, 5 min videos about my research and those of my co-workers. I’d then create a library of these videos for use by any schools or members of the public to learn about cutting-edge scientific research at any time, free of charge.
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Education:
Balwearie High School (Kirkcaldy) 1996 – 2002.
University of St Andrews 2002-2007 for an undergraduate degree.
University of York 2007-2011 for a PhD.
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Qualifications:
Standard Grades: English, Maths, French, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Computing Studies, Drama.
Highers: English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computing Studies, Geography
Advanced Highers: Chemistry
Undergraduate Degree: MChem in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
PhD: Chemistry
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Work History:
Dr Oates & Partners Surgery, Kirkcaldy: Temporary receptionist in summer 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Sainsbury’s, Kirkcaldy: Shelf stacker 2003, 2004
University of Sheffield: Postdoctoral research assistant 2011-2013
Heriot-Watt University: Postdoctoral research assistant 2013-2016
Heriot-Watt University: Assistant Professor, 2016-present
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Invents new drugs and new ways of making drugs.
What did you want to be after you left school?
I didn't know.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Once or twice...
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Honeyblood
What's your favourite food?
Pasta
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To have my next grant application accepted, to be a bit fitter, and to be able to play an instrument.
Tell us a joke.
Two chemists walk into a bar. The first says "I'll have an H2O." The second says "I'll have an H2O, too." The second chemist dies.
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