Chris Hunter (chemist) facts for kids

Christopher Alexander Hunter, born on February 19, 1965, is a British scientist who studies chemistry. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which is a big honor for scientists.

Since 2014, he has been a special professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Organic chemistry is about studying chemicals that contain carbon. His main research now is about something called molecular recognition. This is how molecules (tiny particles) find and connect with each other, like puzzle pieces fitting together. Before that, he taught at the University of Otago in New Zealand and the University of Sheffield in the UK.

About Chris Hunter

Early Life and School

Chris Hunter was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on February 19, 1965. His parents are John Alexander Hunter and Alice Mary Hunter. In 1969, when he was four years old, 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.

University Studies

After school, Chris Hunter went to the University of Cambridge in England. He studied Natural Sciences, which covers many science subjects, and then focused on chemistry.

He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in 1986. Later, he got a Master of Arts (MA) degree, which is a tradition at Cambridge. In 1989, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, which is the highest university degree.

His Career and Research

Starting His Teaching Career

After finishing his studies, Chris Hunter went back to New Zealand. From 1989 to 1991, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Otago. A lecturer is like a university teacher. He taught bioorganic chemistry, which is a mix of biology and chemistry.

Then, he returned to the United Kingdom and joined the University of Sheffield. He was a lecturer there from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he became a reader, which is a step up from a lecturer.

Becoming a Professor

In 1997, Chris Hunter became a full professor of chemistry at the University of Sheffield. This means he was a top expert and teacher in his field.

He also received special research grants during this time. He had a Lister Institute Research Fellowship from 1994 to 1999. He also held an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Senior Research Fellowship from 2005 to 2010. These fellowships helped him do important research.

Joining Cambridge University

In September 2013, Chris Hunter was chosen for a very important role. He became the next Herchel Smith Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. He started this new job in early 2014.

At Cambridge, he is part of the Synthetic Chemistry Research Interest Group. This group works on making new chemical compounds. He is also a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, which means he is a senior member of one of Cambridge's colleges.

Personal Life

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

Awards and Honors

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

• In 1992, he won the Meldola Medal and Prize. This award is given by the Royal Society of Chemistry to a British chemist under 32 who has done promising new research.
• In 1999, he was awarded the Corday–Morgan Medal and Prize. This is another award from the Royal Society of Chemistry, given for the most important contributions to chemistry.
• In 2008, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a huge honor! The Royal Society is the oldest national academy for science in the world and recognizes the UK's most distinguished scientists.