Nigel Scrutton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nigel Scrutton
FRS FRSB FRSC
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| Born |
Nigel Shaun Scrutton
2 April 1964 |
| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | British |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Quantum Biology |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Mechanistic and structural studies on glutathione reductase by protein engineering (1988) |
| Doctoral advisor | Richard Perham |
Nigel Shaun Scrutton (born April 2, 1964) is a British scientist. He is famous for his work in biochemistry and biotechnology. He studies how tiny things in our bodies work, like enzymes. He also works on making new things using biology, which is called synthetic biology.
Nigel Scrutton leads important research centers in the UK. He is the Director of the UK Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub. He also directs the SYNBIOCHEM research center. He helped start a company called C3 Biotechnologies Ltd. This company makes fuels and chemicals using biology. He is a Professor at the University of Manchester.
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Early Life and School
Nigel Scrutton was born in Batley, England. He grew up in a town called Cleckheaton. He went to Whitcliffe Mount School.
He studied Biochemistry at King's College London. He earned his first degree there in 1985. Later, he went to University of Cambridge. There, he earned his PhD in 1988. He also became a research fellow at St John's College, Cambridge. In 2003, he received another special degree called a Doctor of Science (ScD) from Cambridge.
Career and Discoveries
After his PhD, Nigel Scrutton became a teacher and researcher. He worked at the University of Leicester before moving to the University of Manchester in 2005. He has received many important research awards over the years. These awards helped him continue his scientific studies. He has also been a visiting professor in China and Thailand.
Understanding Enzymes
Professor Scrutton has done a lot of important work on enzymes. Enzymes are like tiny machines in our bodies that help chemical reactions happen very fast. He studies how enzymes work and what they are made of.
His team has found out how tiny particles, like electrons, move inside enzymes. This movement is very important for enzymes to do their job. They use special methods to study these reactions. This helps scientists understand how life works at a very small level.
New Ways to Use Biology
Nigel Scrutton also works on synthetic biology. This field is about designing and building new biological parts or systems. It's like engineering, but with living things! He has helped create ways to use tiny living organisms, like bacteria, to make useful chemicals. These chemicals can be used for fuels, new materials, or even medicines.
His research has been supported by many groups, including the UK government and the European Union. He has guided many students who are now scientists themselves. He has also written over 500 research papers.
Starting Companies
In 2015, Professor Scrutton helped start C3 Biotechnologies Ltd. This company uses his research to make fuels and chemicals from biological sources. They have also started other companies to focus on different areas, like maritime and aerospace.
He also leads the Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SYNBIOCHEM). He started this center in 2014. In 2019, he created the UK Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub. This hub helps develop new ways to make things using biology in the UK. This includes medicines, chemicals, and engineering materials.
Awards and Honors
Nigel Scrutton has received many awards for his scientific work:
- He won the Colworth Medal in 1999.
- He received awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2002, 2009, and 2019.
- He was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2020. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Society of Biology.
Under his leadership, the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) won a special award. It received the Queen's Anniversary Prize for its work in biotechnology and bio-manufacturing.
Personal Life
Nigel Scrutton married Nia Francis Roberts in 1989. They have two sons and one daughter.
