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Dr Stephen Potts
CIB 133
Department of Chemistry
20 Gordon Street
London
WC1H 0AJ
Dr Stephen Potts profile picture
Appointment
  • Associate Professor (Teaching)
  • Dept of Chemistry
  • Faculty of Maths & Physical Sciences
Biography

I graduated from UCL with an M.Sci. degree in Chemistry (2005) and stayed on to undertake a PhD sponsored by a CASE award from Epichem Ltd. During this time, I designed and synthesised a variety of novel imido-, cyclopentadienyl- and guanidinato-based precursors using Schlenk techniques. These compounds were used as precursors for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes to tungsten and zirconium carbonitride films. In 2008, I moved to the Netherlands to take a postdoctoral position at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Plasma & Materials Processing group, where I focused on the testing of new metal-organic precursors to oxide, nitride and metallic films for corrosion protection and functional nanostructured materials. 

I returned to the UK in 2013 to shift into a more teaching-focussed role in 2013, when I joined Queen Mary, University of London as a Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry. My pedagogical research included increasing student and staff awareness of laboratory skills and the impact of the introduction of tablets to see if undergraduate chemistry teaching could be made paper-free.

Since joining UCL in 2016 as a Lecturer (Teaching), my research has largely been focussed on e-learning. I am currently an Associate Professor (Teaching) in Chemistry and am Director of Teaching for the Department of Chemistry, with responsibility for guiding teaching strategy in the department. I am also the Year 1 Lead and a Connected Learning Lead.

Research Summary

My research is concerned with pedagogy and its evaluation, which involves designing or updating teaching methods, such as assessment, and critically evaluating the outcomes of that design or update. With my focus on e-learning, I facilitate the introduction of online or computer-based platforms within the department and evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing the student experience and engagement with the subject. For example, design and assessment of new online activities on molecular symmetry to foster more active learning, development of a new welcome page for incoming undergraduates to ease the information overload in induction week and which online activities are most effective for remote learning in terms of student engagement and efficacy.

Teaching Summary

  • Director of Teaching in the Department of Chemistry.
  • Year 1 Lead.
  • Connected Learning Lead.
  • CHEM0005 Chemical Foundations (Lab Senior Demonstrator).
  • CHEM0006 Chemical Skills (Module Organiser, Lecturer).
  • CHEM0011 Chemistry for Biologists (Lecturer).
  • CHEM0014/5 Principles in Inorganic Chemistry (Tutorials, Lab Senior Demonstrator).
  • CHEM0024 Synthesis and Characterisation Methods in Chemistry (Senior Demonstrator, Schlenk Practical).
  • CHEM0027 Chemical Literature (Supervisor).
  • CHEM0030 Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (Workshops).
  • CHEM0080 Advanced Chemical Research Project.

Appointments
01-OCT-2021 Associate Professor (Teaching) in Chemistry Department of Chemistry University College London, United Kingdom
01-OCT-2020 – 30-SEP-2021 Lecturer (Teaching) in Chemistry Department of Chemistry University College London, United Kingdom
01-JUL-2018 – 30-SEP-2020 Senior Teaching Fellow (Chemistry) Department of Chemistry University College London, United Kingdom
27-JUN-2016 – 30-JUN-2018 Teaching Fellow (Chemistry) Department of Chemistry University College London, United Kingdom
16-SEP-2013 – 26-JUN-2016 Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry (Teaching & Scholarship) School of Biological & Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
16-OCT-2010 – 31-AUG-2013 Postdoctoral Researcher (NanoNextNL) Department of Applied Physics Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
16-OCT-2008 – 15-OCT-2010 Postdoctoral Researcher (FP7 CORRAL) Department of Applied Physics Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
26-SEP-2005 – 14-OCT-2008 Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry Department of Chemistry University College London, United Kingdom
Academic Background
2019   ATQ04 - Recognised by the HEA as a Senior Fellow University College London
2016   ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow Queen Mary College, University of London
2009 PhD Doctor of Philosophy University College London
2005 MSci (Hons Master in Science University College London
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