Professor Colin Thomas MA(Cantab), PhD, CEng, FIChemE, CSci

• Chartered Scientist, 2006-2013
• Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, elected 1997
• PhD in Biochemical Engineering, UCL, 1978
• MA(Cantab), 1976

Professor Colin Thomas moved to the University of Birmingham from University College London in 1989. Previously, he had worked in the chemical industry for six years.

He was the Head of Chemical Engineering at Birmingham in 2001 to 2002, Deputy Dean of Physical Sciences and Engineering from 2002 to 2005, Director of Teaching in Engineering from 2005 to 2008, and Director of Quality Assurance and Enhancement in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences from 2008 to 2011. He retired in December 2013.

In 2005 Colin was awarded the Donald Medal of the Institution of Chemical Engineers for services to biochemical engineering.

Colin developed two new analytical techniques that have underpinned most of his research. The first was the application of image analysis to studies of the morphology of filamentous fungi growing in submerged cultures. The second (with Professor Zhibing Zhang) was a micromanipulation technique with associated mathematical modelling for measuring the mechanical properties of biological cells.

RESEARCH THEMES

Measurement of the mechanical properties of biological materials, using micromanipulation-based compression testing and associated modelling. Earlier work concerned the novel application of image analysis to the study of filamentous fermentations.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

• Intrinsic material properties of plant and yeast cell walls
• High Strain Rate Compression Tester: development of equipment for rapid compression of microscopic particles, with high-speed imaging. Intended to complement mathematical modelling of the compression process for the identification of particle material properties
• Microencapsulation

QAA

• Member of QAA Benchmarking Group for Engineering, 1999

Research Councils

• Peer Review College, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, 2010 –
• Member of the Life Sciences College of EPSRC, 1999 – 2005
• Chair, Physics Engineering Initiative Panel, 2003
• Member of the Chemical Engineering College of EPSRC, 1998 – 1999
• Member of Network Group, Engineering and Biological Systems Directorate, BBSRC, 1997 – 1998
• Committee Member, Engineering and Physical Sciences Committee, BBSRC, 1996 – 1997
• Scientific Adviser and Member (1996), Management Committee, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Directorate, BBSRC, 1994 – 1997

Institution of Chemical Engineers

•  Lead Accreditation Assessor, University of Cambridge, 2010
• Accreditation Assessor, University of Manchester, 2008
• Accreditation Assessor, University of Cambridge, 2005
• Membership Committee, 1998 – 2000, 2004 – 2008
• Committee 1989 – 1995 and 2006 – , and Chairman 1991 – 1992, Biochemical

Engineering Subject Group

• Research Committee, 1992 – 1998 
•  Council, 1994 – 1997

Science Council

• Elected Licensed Body Representative on the Science Council Registration Authority, 2004 – 2007
• Member Interim Registration Authority of the Science Council, 2004

Outreach

• Member of Strategic Development Group, Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Technology College, Birmingham, 2000 – 2010; Chair 2006 – 2010