Dr Alex Loch
- UK IC Postdoctoral Research Fellow (School of Chemistry)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7475-2529Biography
I am an early career researcher and materials chemist with a strong focus on application-based research. My interests lie in the development of organic semiconductors and supramolecular materials to address real world challenges. In November 2024, I commenced a UK Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Glasgow (UofG), supported by the Government Office for Science and the Royal Academy of Engineering. My research during this Fellowship focuses on ‘New Preconcentrators for Improved Detection of Low-Volatility Chemical Threats’.
I completed by Honours research project on the ‘Synthesis of Luminescent, Poly(dendrimer)-based Sensors for the Detection of Explosives’ at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. In mid-2022, I completed my PhD at the Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics (COPE) at UQ under the supervision of Prof. Paul Burn and Dr Paul Shaw, where I investigated luminescent materials for illicit drug vapor detection. In mid-2022, I moved to UofG to contribute to the Hetero-print project (EP/R03480X/1) led by Prof. Peter Skabara and Prof. Dave Adams, focusing on heterogeneous transfer-printing and manufacturing. Subsequently, in mid-2024, I joined Prof. Emily Draper’s group at UofG, where I worked on electrochromic devices for applications in smart windows, wearables, sensors, and energy storage.
Research interests
The Loch Group focuses on designing new supramolecular preconcentrators that enhance the sensitivity of existing detection systems, improving safety, reliability, and reducing detection times. By integrating materials chemistry, photophysics, and device engineering, we aim to pioneer innovative materials that that will protect both the public and the environment. We are also interested in stimuli-responsive materials specifically designed for optical applications, such as photochromic markers. In this context, we have developed multi-stimuli-responsive materials that respond to light and mechanical stress in both bulk and nanofabricated geometries.
