He was awarded a University Scholarship to study for a PhD at the
University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Christine
Willis. The aim of his PhD work was to probe the active sites of
various
oxidoreductase enzymes for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure
bioactive molecules and to determine the scope of these
biotransformations in organic synthesis. Eleven papers were published
on various aspects of this work.
He then carried out a post-doctoral fellowship (funded by the Alberta
Heritage Foundation for Medical Research) in the laboratory of
Professor
John Vederas at the University of Alberta, Canada. When not climbing
the Rocky Mountains or teaching the Canadians how to play football,
Andy investigated diaminopimelic acid metabolism for the design of
novel antibiotics. He also studied the biosynthesis of the fungal
metabolite, lovastatin and was involved in the characterisation of the
LNKS protein, the first purified Diels-Alderase.
He then returned to the University of Bristol to take up a junior
research fellowship position working with Professor Timothy Gallagher
on
the design and synthesis of neuronal nicotinic receptors as well as
developing new Pd(0)-catalysed methodology for the synthesis of small
libraries of highly substituted 2-fluoropyridines and 2-pyridones.
In January 2003, he was appointed to a lectureship in the department of
chemistry at the University of Glasgow. In the summer of 2008, he was
promoted to senior lecturer. He currently runs a research
group whose work focuses on the use of new synthetic
methodology for the synthesis of chiral, biologically active and
medicinally important compounds.
His main interests outside chemistry include supporting the sleeping
giant, Wick Academy FC. He enjoys running and is a member of the
Maryhill Harriers.
