Qualifications
- PhD / DPhil (University of Bristol)
Summary
Mark Lorch is a chemist, writer and science communicator. He started his research career working on protein folding and has since delved into many other aspects of biological chemistry ranging from how organisms' signalling molecules will be affected by ocean acidification to monitoring micro-pollutants in waterways.
Alongside his research, Mark is spends his time communicating science to as wide an audience as possible. He founded and directs the Hull Science Festival and leads on widening participation projects in the region. He still finds time to contribute to various media outlets, his prose regularly appears in the mainstream press, and he pops up regularly on broadcast media. He has also provided science consultancy services to film, game production companies and he sits on the Science Advisory Council of the National Police Chiefs' Council.
Book
The Secret Science of Superheroes
Lorch, M., Mackenwells, B., Jesson, D., Pires, I., Day, K., Gentle, L., Whiting, M., Miles, R., Kundu, S., Verran, J., Coxon, P., Rathi, A., Byrne, K., & Heathcoate-Marcz, F. (2017). M. Lorch, & A. Miah (Eds.). The Secret Science of Superheroes. Royal Society of Chemistry
Journal Article
Spore exines increase vitamin D clinical bioavailability by mucoadhesion and bile triggered release
Diego-Taboada, A., Sathyapalan, T., Courts, F., Lorch, M., Almutairi, F., Burke, B. P., Harris, K., Kruusmägi, M., Walther, T., Booth, J., Boa, A. N., Archibald, S. J., Thompson, C., Atkin, S. L., & Mackenzie, G. (2022). Spore exines increase vitamin D clinical bioavailability by mucoadhesion and bile triggered release. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society, 350, 244-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.08.017
Citizen-led sampling to monitor phosphate levels in freshwater environments using a simple paper microfluidic device
Richardson, S., Iles, A., Rotchell, J. M., Charlson, T., Hanson, A., Lorch, M., & Pamme, N. (2021). Citizen-led sampling to monitor phosphate levels in freshwater environments using a simple paper microfluidic device. PLoS ONE, 16(12), Article e0260102. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260102
Lead investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
ASCENTS 1-2-1
Funder
Education Endowment Foundation
Grant
£75,163.34
Started
1 January 2023
Status
Ongoing
Project
Hit or Myth
Funder
Royal Society of Chemistry
Grant
£1,950.00
Started
1 September 2016
Status
Complete
Project
Molcraft: Exploring molecules in Minecraft
Funder
Royal Society of Chemistry
Grant
£2,730.00
Started
1 July 2015
Status
Complete
Project
RSC COVID-19 Head of Department Grant
Funder
Royal Society of Chemistry
Grant
£10,000.00
Started
1 June 2020
Status
Complete
Project
HEIF: Hull Science Festival 2.0 - Post Covid, Phase 1
Funder
University of Hull
Grant
£18,870.00
Started
1 January 2022
Status
Complete
Project
HEIF: HUMBER Science Festival 2.0 - Post Covid Phase 2
Funder
University of Hull
Grant
£30,000.00
Started
1 August 2022
Status
Complete
Co-investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
North Yorkshire Health Determinants Research Collaboration
Funder
National Institute for Health Research
Grant
£989,764.57
Started
1 January 2024
Status
Ongoing
Project
Interreg - Sullied Sediments
Funder
European Commission
Grant
£279,657.00
Started
1 January 2017
Status
Complete
Project
ECPE PPF: Getting the Plastics Circular Economy Message Out: Arts Research and Performance as a Route to Shared Arts and Science Impact and Engagement
Funder
Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council
Grant
£16,535.00
Started
1 November 2019
Status
Complete
Project
1-2-1 Academically asymmetrical paired mentoring: Improving GCSE science attainment amongst disadvantaged students
Funder
Education Endowment Foundation
Grant
£121,920.20
Started
1 January 2021
Status
Complete
Project
Flow: A place-based citizen science approach to increase widening participation in the chemical sciences from areas of high social deprivation.
Funder
Royal Society of Chemistry
Grant
£5,000.00
Started
1 January 2022
Status
Complete
Project
HEIF: Development of a portable sensor for detection of halogens in fresh water
Funder
University of Hull
Grant
£5,000.00
Started
1 January 2022
Status
Complete
Postgraduate supervision
Completed PhDs
Rebecca Batchelor, Drug Lipid Interactions, Studied by Solid State NMR
Rahul Saurabh, Interactions of Alzheimer's Peptides with Lipid Membranes
Yaser Alnaaam, Effect of Diet on Lipid Composition of Heart, Liver and Kidneys
Christina Roggatz, Effects of Ocean Acidification on Structure of Marine Organisms' Signalling Molecules
Current PhD supervisions
Samantha Richardson, Using Paper Microfluidics to Sample Pollutants in Water Ways