University of York

University of York (UoY) 🇬🇧

The University of York is renowned as a young, research-led University. The institution reorganised into three faculties in 2015 that encourage interdisciplinary collaboration across departmental boundaries. We are a leading research institution ranked in the Top 10 of UK higher institutions for research that has a positive impact. Our work is focused around seven research themes, which align our academic strengths to best meet the grand scientific, social and environmental challenges of our time. A member of the Russell Group, a leading organisation of UK universities committed to the highest levels of academic excellence in both teaching and research, the UoY is also a member of the World University Network. In the last Research Excellence Framework (2014), 4 out of 8 of our departments were placed in the top 5 in the UK in their respective disciplines. The Department of Chemistry is part of the Sciences Faculty. It is a large and successful department with an excellent reputation for teaching and research and was ranked 3rd in the UK in the Guardian and Times GUGs and 6th in the Complete University Guide in 2019.

Kirsty Penkman 🇬🇧

Reader Kirsty Penkman's research interest is in the application of analytical chemistry to archaeological and geological questions. In particular, her focus is on the analysis of proteins: their pathways of degradation, their methods of preservation, of detection, and how these molecules can inform us of an organism’s life and death history. Her work on closed system racemisation analysis in shells and dental enamel improves the precision and reliability of amino acid racemisation as a dating tool for the Quaternary, and has been recognised by prizes from the Quaternary Research Association (2008), the Geological Society (2010), the Leverhulme Trust (2012) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (2016). Her ability to foster junior researchers and nurture their route to independence evidenced by the eminent award from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research to her first PhD student to return to Italy and her subsequent promotion, the prestigious NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship to her third PhD student, and her two most recent PhD students starting their third and first postdocs respectively.