Matthew Derry

Dr. Matthew Derry is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at Aston University, part of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He joined Aston in December 2019 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2024. He holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Sheffield (2016) and an MChem in Chemistry with a Year in Industry from the University of York (2012). Prior to Aston, he was a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield (2016–2019). His research focuses on Polymer Science, Materials Science, Block Copolymer Self-Assembly, and X-ray Scattering, with expertise in designing functional materials for energy storage, biomedical applications, and sustainable chemistry.

Dr. Derry teaches courses including Organic Chemistry I-III, Polymer II, and Physical Chemistry II. He leads the Aston Polymer Research Group and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the Aston Advanced Materials and Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence. Externally, he serves as a Representative for Soft Condensed Matter on the Diamond User Committee and as Social Media Representative for Recent Appointees in Polymer Science.

His recent research highlights include studies on ionic liquid-based block copolymers for gel electrolytes, tunable nanoparticle self-assembly using orthogonal stimuli, and material-level analysis of graphene composites for thermal applications. These efforts underscore his commitment to advancing polymer-based solutions for real-world challenges.