Chris Hunter (chemist) facts for kids

Christopher Alexander Hunter is a famous British chemist and professor. He was born on February 19, 1965. Since 2014, he has been a special professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge.

Professor Hunter's main research focuses on something called molecular recognition. This is about how tiny molecules "recognize" and connect with each other. Before joining Cambridge, he taught at the University of Otago in New Zealand and the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

Early Life and School Days

Chris Hunter was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. His parents were John Alexander Hunter and Alice Mary Hunter. When he was four years old, in 1969, his family moved to Northern Ireland.

He went to Portstewart Primary School. Later, he attended Coleraine Academical Institution, which was a school just for boys in Coleraine. After that, he went to the University of Cambridge. There, he studied Natural Sciences and then focused on chemistry. He earned his first university degree in 1986 and a higher degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1989.

His Career in Chemistry

After finishing his studies, Professor Hunter went back to New Zealand. From 1989 to 1991, he worked as a lecturer in bioorganic chemistry at the University of Otago. Bioorganic chemistry is a field that mixes biology and chemistry.

Then, he returned to the United Kingdom and joined the University of Sheffield. He started as a lecturer in 1991 and became a professor of chemistry in 1997. He also received special research awards during his time there.

In 2013, he was chosen for a very important role: the Herchel Smith Professor of Organic Chemistry. He started this job at the University of Cambridge in early 2014. At Cambridge, he is part of a group that studies how to make new chemical compounds. He is also a Fellow at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Family Life

In 2008, Chris Hunter married Rosaleen Theresa McHugh. They have three children together: two sons and one daughter.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Professor Hunter has received several important awards for his work in chemistry:

• In 1992, he won the Meldola Medal and Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry. This award is given to young British chemists who show great promise in their research.
• In 1999, he received the Corday–Morgan Medal and Prize, also from the Royal Society of Chemistry. This award celebrates the most important contributions to chemistry.
• In 2008, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a huge honor in the United Kingdom, recognizing top scientists.