Dr Vikki Carolan BSc(Hons), PhD, CChem FRSC, FHEA
Principal Lecturer and Undergraduate Delivery Manager
Summary
I was appointed as a lecturer in analytical science at Sheffield Hallam University in 1995, after completing a BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry (with Analytical Chemistry) followed by a PhD at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
I teach analytical science, including separation science and surface analysis, to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
As Undergraduate Academic Delivery Lead, I oversee the Bioscience and Chemistry Undergraduate programme of courses. My research interests are in the application of separation science, surface analysis and mass spectrometric techniques to real-world problems.
About
I studied Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry at UMIST (now part of University of Manchester) and followed the BSc with a PhD in Chemistry (surface analysis) also at UMIST. After completing postdoctoral research at the Universities of Nottingham and Bradford, applying analytical science to problems in pharmaceutical science and archaeology, I joined Sheffield Hallam in 1995 as a lecturer in analytical science. I have taught chemistry to non-chemists, introductory analytical science, separation science and surface analysis to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
I am also the Undergraduate Academic Delivery Lead for the Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, overseeing the programme of courses and working with course leaders to ensure an excellent student experience. Previous roles have included academic placement tutor for the department as well as course leader of various Chemistry courses. Development of employability skills is vital to success as a graduate and I am heavily involved in motivating and enabling students to improve and evidence their employability.
My research interests remain in the application of analytical techniques to real-life problems, for example collaborating with scientists at the HSL in the development of methodologies to monitor occupational exposure to arsenic, chromium, silicon and their species.
I have been a committee member for the Royal Society of Chemistry Sheffield and District local section since 1997. This involves the organisation of local RSC events and activities to promote chemistry to the wider community, allowing networking of professionals in the chemical sciences community.
Specialist areas of interest
Surface Analysis
Separation Science
Teaching
I teach analytical science, with a particular interest in separation science and surface analysis. I am keen to promote the real-world application of analytical techniques to students and include examples from many aspects of science, including my own research, illustrating to students the capabilities of these techniques. These topics are taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
As well as analytical science, I lead a final year undergraduate module which helps students develop and evidence their communication and employability skills. Careers and employability advisors, as well as information specialists, contribute to the module to ensure students have the necessary knowledge and skills to make productive choices about their future careers as science graduates.
Chemistry
BSc(Hons)/MChem Chemistry
Biosciences and Chemistry undergraduate programme
MSc Analytical Chemistry
I teach analytical science, with a particular interest in separation science and surface analysis. I am keen to promote the real-world application of analytical techniques to students and includes examples from many aspects of science, including my own research, illustrating to students the capabilities of these techniques. These topics are taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
As well as analytical science, I lead a final year undergraduate module which helps students develop and evidence their communication and employability skills. Careers and employability advisors, as well as information specialists, contribute to the module to ensure students have the necessary knowledge and skills to make productive choices about their future careers as science graduates.
Research
My current research is in the development and application of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. I am part of the Bioanalytical Science group within the Biomolecular Sciences Research centre, collaborating with Prof Malcolm Clench and Dr Philip Gardiner.
I have worked closely with scientists at the Health & Safety Laboratory developing methods based on LC-ICP-MS to monitor occupational exposure to arsenic, chromium, silica and their species. This has also involved the development of novel sampling methodologies.
Dr Jackie Morton, Health and Safety Laboratory
Publications
Journal articles
Little, L.D., Carolan, V.A., Allen, K.E., Cole, L.M., & Haywood-Small, S.L. (2020). Headspace analysis of mesothelioma cell lines differentiates biphasic and epithelioid sub-types. Journal of Breath Research, 14 (4), 046011. http://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/abaaff
Leese, E., Staff, J.F., Carolan, V., & Morton, J. (2017). Exhaled breath condensate: a novel matrix for biological monitoring to assess occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Annals of work exposures and health, 61 (7), 902-906. http://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxx047
Leese, E., Clench, M., Morton, J., Gardiner, P., & Carolan, V. (2017). The investigation of unexpected arsenic compounds observed in routine biological monitoring urinary speciation analysis. Toxics, 5 (2), 12. http://doi.org/10.3390/toxics5020012
Djidja, M.-.C., Claude, E., Scriven, P., Allen, D., Carolan, V., & Clench, M. (2016). Antigen retrieval prior to on-tissue digestion of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue sections yields oxidation of proline residues. Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1865 (7), 901-906. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.11.019
Leese, E., Morton, J., Gardiner, P., & Carolan, V. (2016). The simultaneous detection of trivalent & hexavalent chromium in exhaled breath condensate: A feasibility study comparing workers and controls. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220 (2), 415-423. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.12.003
Leese, E., Morton, J., Gardiner, P., & Carolan, V. (2016). Development of a method for the simultaneous detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) in exhaled breath condensate samples using μLC-ICP-MS. Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry, 31 (4), 924-933. http://doi.org/10.1039/c5ja00436e
Batubara, A., Carolan, V.A., Loadman, P.M., Sutton, C., Shnyder, S.D., & Clench, M.R. (2015). Thin-layer chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging for the analysis of phospholipids in LS174T colorectal adenocarcinoma xenografts treated with the vascular disrupting agent DMXAA. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 29 (14), 1288-1296. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.7223
Cole, L., Bluff, J.E., Carolan, V., Paley, M.N., Tozer, G.M., & Clench, M. (2014). MALDI-MSI and label-free LC-ESI-MS/MS shotgun proteomics to investigate protein induction in a murine fibrosarcoma model following treatment with a vascular disrupting agent. Proteomics, 14 (7-8), 890-903. http://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201300429
Leese, E., Morton, J., Tan, E., Gardiner, P.H.E., & Carolan, V.A. (2014). µLC-ICP-MS determinations of unexposed UK urinary arsenic speciation reference values. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 38 (1), 24-30. http://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkt090
Djidja, M.-.C., Francese, S., Claude, E., Loadman, P., Sutton, C., Shynder, S., ... Clench, M. (2013). Targeting of Hypoxia in AQ4N-treated Tumour Xenografts by MALDI-Ion Mobility Separation-Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Current Analytical Chemistry, 9 (2), 212-225. http://doi.org/10.2174/157341113805218884
Ferguson, L.S., Wulfert, F., Wolstenholme, R., Fonville, J.M., Clench, M., Carolan, V.A., & Francese, S. (2012). Direct detection of peptides and small proteins in fingermarks and determination of sex by MALDI mass spectrometry profiling. The Analyst, 137 (20), 4686-4692. http://doi.org/10.1039/c2an36074h
Trim, P.J., Djidja, M.-.C., Muharib, T., Cole, L.M., Flinders, B., Carolan, V., ... Clench, M. (2012). Instrumentation and software for mass spectrometry imaging -making the most of what you've got. Journal of Proteomics, 75 (16), 4931-4940.
Cole, L., Djidja, M.-.C., Bluff, J., Claude, E., Carolan, V., Paley, M., ... Clench, M. (2011). Investigation of protein induction in tumour vascular targeted strategies by MALDI MSI. Methods, 54 (4), 442-453. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2011.03.007
Earnshaw, C.J., Carolan, V.A., Richards, D.S., & Clench, M.R. (2010). Direct analysis of pharmaceutical tablet formulations using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 24 (11), 1665-1672. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4525
Anderson, D.M.G., Carolan, V.A., Crosland, S., Sharples, K.R., & Clench, M.R. (2010). Examination of the translocation of sulfonylurea herbicides in sunflower plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 24 (22), 3309-3319. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4767
Djidja, M.C., Claude, E., Snel, M.F., Francese, S., Scriven, P., Carolan, V., & Clench, M.R. (2010). Novel molecular tumour classification using MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging of tissue micro-array. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 397 (2), 587-601. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3554-6
Anderson, D.M.G., Carolan, V.A., Crosland, S., Sharples, K.R., & Clench, M.R. (2009). Examination of the distribution of nicosulfuron in sunflower plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry, 23 (9), 1321-1327. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.3973
Djidja, M.-.C., Claude, E., Snel, M.F., Scriven, P., Francese, S., Carolan, V., & Clench, M.R. (2009). MALDI-Ion Mobility Separation-Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 kDa (Grp78) in Human Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Tissue Sections. Journal of Proteome Research, 8 (10), 4876-4884. http://doi.org/10.1021/pr900522m
Djidja, M.C., Carolan, V., Loadman, P.M., & Clench, M.R. (2008). Method development for protein profiling in biological tissues by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry, 22 (10), 1615-1618. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.3503
Delogne, C., Lawford, P.V., Habesch, S.M., & Carolan, V.A. (2007). Characterization of the calcification of cardiac valve bioprostheses by environmental scanning electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. Journal of microscopy, 228 (1), 62-77. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2007.01824.x
Prideaux, B., Atkinson, S.J., Carolan, V.A., Morton, J., & Clench, M.R. (2006). Sample preparation and data interpretation procedures for the examination of xenobiotic compounds in skin by indirect imaging MALDI-MS. International journal of mass spectrometry, 260 (2-3), 243-251. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2006.10.011
Warburton, K.E., Clench, M.R., Ford, M.J., White, J., Rimmer, D.A., & Carolan, V.A. (2005). Characterisation of derivatised monomeric and prepolymeric isocyanates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and structural elucidation by tandem mass spectrometry. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England), 11 (6), 565-574. http://doi.org/10.1255/ejms.778
Morton, J., Carolan, V.A., & Gardiner, P.H.E. (2002). The speciation of inorganic and methylmercury in human hair by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry, 17 (4), 377. http://doi.org/10.1039/b201978g
Morton, J., Carolan, V.A., & Gardiner, P.H.E. (2001). Removal of exogenously bound elements from human hair by various washing procedures and determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analytica chimica acta, 455 (1), 23-34. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(01)01578-1
Barrett, D.A., Brown, V.A., Watson, R.C., Davies, M.C., Shaw, P.N., Ritchie, H.J., & Ross, P. (2000). Effects of acid treatment on the trace metal content of chromatographic silica: bulk analysis, surface analysis and chromatographic performance of bonded phases. Journal of chromatography A, 905 (1-2), 69-83. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(00)01000-1
Carolan, V.A., Gardner, M.L., Lucy, D., & Pollard, A.M. (1997). Some considerations regarding the use of amino acid racemization in human dentine as an indicator of age at death. Journal of forensic sciences, 42 (1), 10-16.
Conference papers
Willetts, M., Clench, M.R., Greenwood, R., Mills, G., & Carolan, V. (1999). The determination of non‐ionic surfactants in surface waters by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 13 (4), 251-255. http://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(19990228)13:4<251::aid-rcm455>3.3.co;2-9
Theses / Dissertations
Little, L.D. (2022). Volatile organic compounds as breathomicviomarkers of malignant mesothelioma. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Haywood-Small, S., Carolan, V., Allen, L., & Cole, L. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00495
Leese, E.J. (2017). Analytical methods to investigate occupational exposure to toxic elements and their species. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Carolan, V., Gardiner, P., & Morton, J. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00058
Cole, L.M. (2013). Investigation of protein induction in vascular-targeted strategies. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Clench, M., & Carolan, V.
Djidja, M.-.C. (2009). Examination of tumour tissues by direct MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging and profiling. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Clench, M., & Carolan, V.
Benke, P.I. (2004). Development and applications of electrically driven separation methods. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Clench, M., Carolan, V., & Tetler, L.
King, A. (2001). Development and application of capillary electrochromatography using modular instrumentation. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Tetler, L., Carolan, V., & Crowther, D.
Mawhinney, J. (2000). Determination of trace elements in hair for monitoringenvironmental and occupational exposure. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Gardiner, P., & Carolan, V.
Other activities
I am a Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Society of Chemistry. I am also a committee member for the Royal Society of Chemistry Sheffield and District local section.
Postgraduate supervision
Previous:
Part-time PhD 2010-2017 - Analytical Methods To Investigate Occupational Exposure To Toxic Metals And Their Species
Between 1997 and 2018, I have been Director of Studies for three postgraduate research students, as well as on the supervisory team for a further 13 postgraduate research students. The projects supervised have all involved the application and development of analytical science methodologies.
Projects have included 'Analytical Methods To Investigate Occupational Exposure To Toxic Metals And Their Species', 'Characterisation of the Cross-linking and Calcification Associated with Glutaraldehyde-Treated Cardiac Bioprostheses' and 'Development and Application of Capillary Electrochromatography using Modular Instrumentation'.