Robert Field

Robert Field is an Honorary Professor at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, leading its development since 2020. A University of East Anglia graduate (BSc 1986, PhD 1989), he held academic roles at the University of Oxford, University of Dundee, University of St Andrews (full Professor from 1999), and the John Innes Centre. His research focuses on carbohydrate chemistry, plant polysaccharides, and biotechnology applications, addressing sustainable nutrition and infectious diseases. He founded Iceni Diagnostics and serves as its CEO, developing diagnostics (e.g., a SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow test).

Education: BSc (1986), PhD (1989) from University of East Anglia; postdoctoral work at Oxford (1989–91) and Dundee (1992–94).

Research interests span carbohydrate biochemistry, plant/algae polysaccharides, bacterial adhesion, and diagnostics. Projects integrate chemical synthesis, enzymology, and omics approaches. Collaborations span kingdoms (plants, bacteria, protozoa) for impactful outcomes.

Notable awards include the Royal Society of Chemistry Carbohydrate Award (1996), Longitude Prize Discovery Award (2016), and Fellowship in India’s Association of Carbohydrate Chemists (2018).

Leadership roles: President of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemistry-Biology Interface Division. Co-founded Iceni Glycoscience (2014) for glycoscience applications.

Key projects include advancing mass spectrometry (21ALERT project) and developing sustainable biocatalytic methods.