Michael Plater

Dr. Michael Plater is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen, within the School of Natural and Computing Sciences. His research and teaching are centered on organic and supramolecular chemistry, with a strong emphasis on heterocyclic synthesis, crystal engineering, and historical dyes.

• Institution: University of Aberdeen
• School: School of Natural and Computing Sciences
• Department: Department of Chemistry
• Academic Rank: Senior Lecturer

Dr. Plater earned his BSc in Chemistry (First Class) from Loughborough University in 1986, a PhD in heterocyclic synthesis from Imperial College London in 1989, and a DSc from the University of Aberdeen in 2009 based on his extensive body of published research. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Chartered Chemist (CChem).

His research spans several areas in organic and materials chemistry, including the design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), coordination polymers, porphyrin systems, stable free radicals, and the chemistry of historical dyes such as mauveine. He has made significant contributions to understanding nucleophilic aromatic substitution, supramolecular assembly, and crystal structures of complex organic and organometallic systems. His work often combines synthetic organic chemistry with structural analysis via X-ray crystallography.

Recent publications (2023–2025) highlight ongoing research in porous organic materials, sequential substitution reactions, chiral thianthrenes, and the historical development of synthetic dyes. His articles frequently appear in journals such as the Journal of Chemical Research, ChemistryOpen, and International Journal of Molecular Sciences, demonstrating a consistent and active research program.

Dr. Plater has received several notable awards, including:

• Edmund White Award for best PhD thesis (1989)
• British Fulbright Scholarship (1989)
• Realising our Potential Award (ROPA, 1999)
• Poster Prize at the 15th Lakeland Heterocyclic Meeting (2001)
• Think Crime Award (2006) for work on fingerprint detection

He teaches courses in biological and organic chemistry at various levels and has served as a course coordinator. His research mentorship includes supervision under Clark Still (New York), Charles Rees (London), and Harry Heaney (Loughborough). While no current students are listed, his long publication record suggests sustained research activity and collaboration, particularly with W.T.A. Harrison. He is actively involved in crystallography and materials design, contributing to both fundamental and applied chemical research.