Rate My Professor Paul Topham

Professor Paul Topham is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University, serving as Director of the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME). He earned his MChem degree (Upper Second Class) from the University of Sheffield in 2002 and his PhD in Polymer Science from the same institution in 2006. Following his PhD, Topham completed a postdoctoral research position with Unilever under the supervision of Professor Steve Armes. He joined Aston University in August 2008 as a Lecturer in Chemistry, advancing to Senior Lecturer in August 2012, Reader in Polymer Chemistry in August 2013, and Full Professor in August 2017. Additional qualifications include a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Higher Education from Aston University in 2010.

Topham's research centers on polymer science, focusing on the design, synthesis, and application of well-defined polymer systems, including smart polymers, sustainable bio-based and biodegradable materials, and nanofibrous fabrics via electrospinning. His interests encompass microphase separation through polymer self-assembly, triggerable materials, biopolymers, biomaterials, and organic solar cells, employing controlled polymerisation techniques, synthetic organic chemistry, and advanced characterization such as X-ray scattering and neutron reflectivity. He holds distinctions including Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2016), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA, 2015), Chartered Chemist (CChem, 2017), Aston University Early Career Researcher of the Year (2010), and MacroGroup UK Young Researchers Medal (2014). Topham serves as Secretary of Division IV (Polymer Division) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Guest Professor at South China University of Technology, and member of the Soft Matter Panel for the Diamond Light Source. Notable publications include "Block copolymer strategies for solar cell technology" (2011, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics), "Peptide conjugate hydrogelators" (2010, Soft Matter), "Reciprocating power generation in a chemically driven synthetic muscle" (2006, Nano Letters), and recent works on injectable hydrogels and electrospun nanofibres. With 161 research outputs, his contributions have advanced polymer nanotechnology and sustainable materials research.