Fraser Armstrong

Fraser Armstrong is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford. His career spans positions at the University of California, Irvine (1989-1993) and University of Oxford (1983-present), including a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (1983-1989). Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2008, he co-authors a leading undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry textbook.

His research pioneers Protein Film Electrochemistry to investigate electron-transfer proteins and enzymes, focusing on hydrogenases, CO₂-reducing enzymes, and multi-enzyme cascades. Key innovations include the Electrochemical Leaf for nanopore-confined catalysis and discoveries about reversible enzymatic electrocatalysis. His work bridges biological inorganic chemistry with solar fuels and artificial photosynthesis.

Major awards include the Davy Medal (2012), Royal Society of Chemistry Medals (2000, 2006), Carbon Trust Innovation Award (2003), and multiple distinguished lectureships. His research program has received sustained funding through fellowships including the Wolfson Research Award (2013-2018).

Armstrong leads a research group developing bioelectrocatalytic systems for energy applications, with expertise in enzyme immobilization, nanopore electrochemistry, and mechanistic studies of metalloenzymes. His team explores microbial hydrogen metabolism and photoelectrochemical CO₂ reduction using enzyme-nanoparticle hybrids.