James Barber

James Barber was the Ernst Chain Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London, serving as Head of the Department of Biochemistry (1989–1999) and Director of the Centre for Photomolecular Sciences. His research focused on photosynthesis, particularly the structural and functional mechanisms of Photosystem II (PSII), culminating in the first atomic structure determination of the oxygen-evolving complex. He held visiting professorships at institutions like Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and Politecnico di Torino (Italy), advancing artificial photosynthesis research for solar fuel production.

Education: B.Sc. (Wales), M.Sc. & Ph.D. (University of East Anglia), postdoctoral fellowships at Leiden University. Awards include Royal Society Fellowship, Flintoff Medal, and Italgas Prize. Key contributions include elucidating water-splitting mechanisms in PSII and pioneering biomimetic solar energy solutions.

Publications (600+ papers, H-index 72) and lectures span international venues, emphasizing solar fuels and interdisciplinary approaches. Notable collaborations include development of Cu-Mo sulfide catalysts and hematite-based photoanodes for hydrogen production.