CH4ID2: Academic and Industrial Chemistry

Module code: CH4ID2

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr John McKendrick , email: j.e.mckendrick@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Kevin Lovelock, email: k.r.j.lovelock@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 29 May 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to highlight research activity post University that is carried out in academic and industrial settings. 

The module consists of a series of lectures from external speakers from across academia and industry. These lectures highlight the different focus that each sector has in the application of chemistry towards their goals. 

The module breaks down into two sets of lectures: i) academic seminars from invited speakers who highlight their own personal research field and research successes and ii) a series of industrially delivered lectures that highlight the role of the chemist in drug discovery; in the development of innovative household products and in the use of computational methods for problem solving. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Discuss the application of chemical knowledge post-university and gain better insight into postgraduate research to help inform their career choice 
2. Describe how academic research is carried out and how it builds on a body of peer reviewed research while developing an appreciation for the relevance of their undergraduate studies to different research fields. 
3. Explain the role of a chemist in an industrial setting and how the role differs from that of an academic by interacting with leading research chemists and outline the differences between an academic and industrial setting. 
4. Apply principles gained from the lectures to the solution of real-world example problems by using key concepts in medicinal chemistry, the chemistry of everyday items and in computational chemistry. 
5. Develop scientific communication skills by practice in writing and/or presenting reports of different styles. 

Module content

Academic research seminars:

• A series of lectures delivered by external academic lectures on research topics that reflect the interests of the Department. The content of these lectures varies every year,but will always reflect research at the forefront of the academic discipline.

Industrial chemistry:

• A look at familiar and unfamiliar areas of chemistry as it is practiced in an industrial setting. Lectures cover aspects of drug discovery from hit to lead and beyond; the chemistry of household products from tea to perfume to washing powder; and the application of chemical modelling to problem solving in industry. Please note, topic coverage may vary year to year due to availability of the experts delivering the material.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course will be delivered through lectures and workshops. All lecture sessions are provided by external speakers who cover topics in which they are recognised experts. The average weekly load will be around 3 lecture hours across the semester.

The solid gas interface (10 lectures + 2 workshops + 1 seminar) 

Physical chemistry of solid surfaces. Surface structure, catalytic activity, adsorption isotherms, heterogenous catalysis and kinetic models. A visit to Diamond Light Source is planned for this module, but is dependent on availability at the time the module runs.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled te