Professor Adrian J Wright BSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC, SFHEA

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2016
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016
• Distinguished Fellow of the Teaching Academy, University of Birmingham 2016
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education 2002
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2000
• Chartered Chemist, 2000
• PhD in Oxide Superconductors 1995
• BSc (Hons) Chemistry 1991

Adrian Wright obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham in 1995 and then moved to the University of Cambridge to study phosphate framework materials. He returned to the University of Birmingham in 1999 to take up a lectureship in materials chemistry and was promoted to Professor in 2024.

Adrian has a strong track record in delivering innovative teaching and in teaching leadership. He was previously the Academic Director of the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory which provides state-of-the-art laboratory learning experiences to over 4000 STEM students each year.  In this role, he had a sustained record of leading innovation to create successful interdisciplinary collaborations between academics and professional services in the design of high quality, inclusive and academically challenging practice in a research-intensive teaching environment. In 2024, he was recognised for his leadership by the University of Birmingham with the prestigious Educational Leadership Award.    

Adrian’s research focus is on the synthesis and structural characterisation of novel inorganic materials, particularly in the areas of biomaterials, magnetic materials and inorganic host materials. 

Adrian takes an active role in the Chemistry community, and was a recent recipient of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Long Service Award in recognition of his committee contributions to the Solid State Chemistry group and the Higher Education Group. 

Teaching Programmes

Adrian has successfully delivered teaching activities to all Chemistry cohorts from foundation to MSc level. He currently delivers over 50 contact hours (p.a.) of lectures to Year 1, Year 3 and distance learning cohorts, tutorials, workshops and lab teaching.

RESEARCH THEMES

The Wright group undertakes research in Materials Chemistry, with interests in biomaterials, pigments, magnetic and hybrid materials. Underpinning all our research is the use of detailed structural analyses to guide our syntheses of new advanced materials. The group utilises numerous techniques, including neutron & X-ray diffraction methods, Rietveld analysis and X-ray fluorescence, to characterise materials.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Inorganic Biomaterials

Increasing demand for hard tissue replacement, is fuelling research into new biocompatible ceramics. Research in the Wright group is focused on the synthesis of novel materials, particular polyphosphates with potential for enhanced resorption. Other interests include novel bone cement formulations, biocompatible nanocomposites and biomineralisation via amorphous intermediates.

Modifying Inorganic Host Structures

The group investigates the chemical manipulations of host inorganic structures to enhance properties such as ion exchange/conduction, intercalation and magnetism. This route offers potential for new and often unusual structures and allows us to develop an improved understanding of the structure-property relationship.

Low-Dimensional Magnetic Materials

Low dimensional magnetic materials are currently of great interest for their unusual anisotropic magnetic properties and potential magnetoresistive behaviour. At present the relationship between structure and properties in these materials is not well understood, partly due to the limited structures reported. Research within the Wright group explores the synthesis of new structures via a novel multistage approach involving precursors derived from the strict control of synthetic conditions and intercalation reactions. The group’s success in isolating new structures is allowing a greater understanding of the potential of these materials.

Pigments

Research is also directed to developing transition metal condensed phosphates for application as pigments. The group’s improved understanding of the subtle changes in transition metal coordination allows development of new advanced inorganic pigments.

Deputy Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS).