After graduating from the Dept of Chemistry at Hull University I obtained employment as a University research technician (grade 4). I was working in association with Dr. M.J. Moore studying ubiquinone transport across both artificial membranes, liposomes and in the sulphur utilising organism Thiobacillus. This work involved the use of NMR, electron microscopy and highly sensitive spectrophotometry.
I moved to the Dept of Genetics, Newcastle University as a research technician initially working on the isolation of unique plasmid borne restriction and modification systems. The emphasis of the research I was involved with then changed to the study of plasmids in the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae. This project involved some very early studies on the expression of antibiotic resistance genes, from a variety of sources, in Haemophilus. However, the research was eventually abandoned because of the difficulties involved in the culturing of Haemophilus influenzae. During this time I was re-graded from grade 4 to grade 6 technician. This re-grading was based exclusively upon my research capabilities and not upon the acquisition of other duties.
I registered for a part-time PhD working on the R124 plasmid‑borne restriction and modification system and successfully completed my PhD in 1982. The bulk of the research at that time involved the study of various complex DNA rearrangements associated with a switch in specificity of the R124 R-M system.
During this period I was employed by the Medical Research Council as a post-doctoral research assistant, working with Prof. S.W. Glover in the Dept. of Genetics at Newcastle-upon-Tyne University. I was engaged in DNA sequencing of a plasmid-borne Type I Restriction and Modification (R-M) system with a view to altering the DNA specificity of this system by in vitro mutagenesis.
I was originally appointed to the post of Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences of Portsmouth Polytechnic (now University). During my time at Portsmouth University I have developed a commercially viable "open course" to introduce the techniques of Genetic Engineering and published the manual from this course. I have also developed a computer-based lecture course, to accompany this practical manual, which involves the use of a "hypertext" multimedia environment, which is currently being evaluated by John Wiley with a view to publishing it. I lead a strong research group, which was established, immediately on my arrival at the University of Portsmouth (with the help of grants from MRC and Nuffield). I also established, and have maintained over a number of years, collaborative projects with a research group based in Czechoslovakia, a group in Pushchino, Russia and a group in Israel. These links were established by means of Wellcome Trust Interlaboratory Collaborative Research Grants and a grant from the British Council.
I was promoted to Principal Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences following my appointment as Course Leader for the Molecular Biology Degree. As well as teaching courses on Genetic Engineering to all three years I am involved in active research (see below) and have held a number of research grants from SERC, Nuffield, MRC, the British Council, the EU and The Wellcome Trust. I have expanded my collaborative research to include groups from the University of Alabama, USA, the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Moscow, the Technology University, ENS/CNRS Paris, University of Palma, Italy, Technology University, Delft and the National Physical Laboratories in the UK.
2002 - 2010
I was promoted to the position of Reader in Molecular Biotechnology in February 2002 and I was involved in developing the University's interest in Bio-Nanotechnology. During this period I expanded my own research into this emerging and exciting field and I was asked to develop a policy for Nanotechnology for the University. The award of two EC grants of ~€2 million each was an important step toward implementing this policy and I looked to engage other Portsmouth staff in these activities. More recently, this work expanded into a more applied area of research and development with a focus on developing a nanoactuator as a generic biosensor within a commercial environment. This led to collaborations with industry (Cybersense Biosystems Limited and Farfield Sensors Limited) and funding to expand and promote this area of R&D. My interests from this lie at the forefront of modern technology – the development of novel biosensors using biological molecular motors as nanoactuators for use as single molecule sensing systems.
The commercial aspects of my work brought support from the University Research and Development Department in the form of funding for a CommercialiSE Fellowship Course, Proof of Concept funding from Finance SouthEast and we are now looking at how best to commercialise this research.
Last modified on
23 December 2011
© Dr Keith Firman
Author Dr Keith Firman.