Michael Turner

Michael Turner is a Professor of Materials Chemistry and Director of the Organic Materials Innovation Centre (OMIC) at the University of Manchester's School of Chemistry. He holds a Chair in Materials Chemistry and leads the Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC), a virtual interdisciplinary research hub. His research focuses on synthesizing conjugated molecules for applications in organic electronics, including transistors, LEDs, sensors, and solar cells. He coordinates the EPSRC-funded Organic Materials for Electronics Consortium (OME-C), involving collaborations across multiple institutions.

Education:

• Bachelor's and PhD from the University of Bristol (organometallic chemistry with Prof. Selby Knox).
• Postdoctoral work in the U.S. with Prof. Harry Allcock on polyphosphazenes, followed by research at the University of Sheffield on Fischer-Tropsch reactions under Prof. Peter Maitlis.

Research Interests: Synthesis of conjugated liquid crystals and polymers, organic electronics, electro-optical devices, and nanoscale fabrication. His work addresses challenges in energy, environment, and material synthesis through novel polymer architectures and functional nanoparticles.

Key Projects:

• Principal Investigator for KCMC, advancing applied materials chemistry and knowledge transfer.
• Leading projects on CRISPR-Cas technology integration into organic electronics and roadside breath analysis of narcotics.
• Contributions to neuromorphic computing via printed electronics and bioelectronics networks.

Awards:

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship (1993).

Grants & Collaborations: Coordinates EPSRC consortia and collaborates internationally on polymer synthesis, sensor systems, and bio-inspired materials. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly energy and environmental innovation.

Labs & Teams: Directs OMIC and KCMC, fostering interdisciplinary research in organic materials, device fabrication, and nanotechnology applications.