Dr Lewis MacKenzie
Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Personal statement
I am a Chancellor's Fellow in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, leading a small highly-focused research team. Our research primarily focuses on the development of photonic upconversion nanosensors for biophotonics applications, particularly biosensing, and photodynamic therapies. My background is interdisciplinary, and I am also interested in biophotonics, imaging, spectroscopy, microscopy, circularly polarised luminescence for chiral molecules, optical instrumentation, and science communication. I can offer project opportunities for masters-level and PhD students. Please email me for details. Updates can be found at these links: https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/lewis-mackenzie www.lewismackenzie.science
Area of Expertise
Upconversion nanoparticles, nanosensors, biophotonics, blood oximetry, tissue optics, imaging, optical instrumentation, spectroscopy, chiral spectroscopy, circularly polarised luminescence (CPL), science communication and new media.
Prize And Awards
- IOP 3 Minute Wonder UK Grand Final
- Recipient
- 17/5/2022
- Postgraduate Course in Science Communication. Invited lecture.
- Recipient
- 9/2020
- Institute of Physics, 3 Minute Wonder, North East England Heat Winner
- Recipient
- 11/2019
- BBSRC Discovery Fellowship
- Recipient
- 2019
- ‘ACTION for Impact’ Pitch Competition Runner Up.
- Recipient
- 2019
- Famelab UK finalist
- Recipient
- 2015
Qualifications
Ph.D. 2016. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow. Thesis title: 'In vivo oximetry using multispectral imaging'. Supervisor: Prof. Andy Harvey.
M.Sc. Astrophysics. 2012. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow.
B.Sc. (Hons). Physics and Astronomy. 2011. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow.
Publications
- Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations
- McGonigle Rebecca, Glasgow Jodie, Houston Catriona, Cameron Iain, Homann Christian, Black Dominic J, Pal Robert, MacKenzie Lewis E
- Communications Chemistry Vol 8 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3
- Analysis of over 1,600 chemistry YouTube channels from 2005 to 2023
- Gardner Scott, Bezati Gabriela, Godfrey Tristen, Baird Katie, Bilal Usamah, Loudon Emma, Young Rhona, MacKenzie Lewis E
- Royal Society Open Science Vol 12 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241599
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles affect the mitochondrial efficiency of human brain vascular pericytes without inducing oxidative stress
- Gettings Sean M, Timbury William, Dmochowska Anna, Sharma Riddhi, McGonigle Rebecca, MacKenzie Lewis E, Miquelard-Garnier Guillaume, Bourbia Nora
- NanoImpact Vol 34 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2024.100508
- Keeping it simple? Straight-forward synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles : under-studied methods and high-safety autoclave synthesis
- MacKenzie Lewis
- Materials Challenges in Alternative & Renewable Energy (MCARE) (2023)
- Reflections on a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship (2020 – 2023)
- MacKenzie Lewis
- BBSRC Fellows Annual Conference (2023)
- Influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in the synthesis of luminescent NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles
- Birch Ross, Bruckbauer Jochen, Gajewska Marta, Cios Grzegorz, Pal Robert, MacKenzie Lewis E
- Methods and Applications in Fluorescence Vol 11 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1088/2050-6120/acd837
Teaching
Dr MacKenzie currently teaches CH213 'Handling Chemical Data and Mathematics' as part of the level 2 undergraduate Chemistry curriculum.
Research Interests
The MacKenzie NanoBioPhotonics group currently focus on these interdisciplinary research themes:
- Upconversion nanoparticles: synthesis, design, and functionalization.
- Nanobiosensing: oxygen measurement in blood, cells, and tissue.
- Applied optics: imaging and spectroscopy
- Quantitative science communication: science podcast and chemistry YouTube channels
For a detailed breakdown, please visit:
https://mackenzie-lab.org/research-areas
Professional Activities
- Exciting Upconversion Nanoparticles
- Speaker
- 18/2/2025
- BAM, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin (Germany)
- Visiting researcher
- 17/1/2025
- Interview for Chemical and Engineering News Article (USA)
- Interviewee
- 4/9/2024
- Interview for Chemistry World Magazine Article (UK)
- Interviewee
- 30/8/2024
- M.Chem. viva examinations
- Examiner
- 2024
- Examination of M.Chem. theses
- Examiner
- 2024
Projects
- EPSRC Core Equipment Maintenance Award: CD
- Chow, Shiao (Principal Investigator) Edkins, Robert (Principal Investigator) MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- £12,576
- 13-Jan-2024 - 12-Jan-2025
- "Hand shaking" hybrid nanoparticles to generate light for advanced 3D displays and security patterns
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025
- Versatile high-capacity high-speed benchtop centrifuge for multiple users
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- a modern high speed refrigerated centrifuge with interchangeable carbon fibre rotors (up to 15 year lifespan) to provide for a wide variety of users applications, including 50 mL conical tubes, 15 mL conical tubes, 1.5 -2 mL Eppendorf tubes, and multi-well microplates. Max relative centrifugal force (RCF) up to 25,830 times gravity (Xg). Includes touch screen controls, quick rotor change features, self-diagnostic features, energy saving design, and advanced ergonomic features to meet the needs of multiple users.
- 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2023
- Functional nanoparticle constructs for biosensing: optimised core synthesis, mesoporous shell formation, and dye-loading (Research Enablement Grant)
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2023
- Functional nanoparticle constructs for biosensing: optimised core synthesis, mesoporous shell formation, and dye-loading.
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Principal Investigator)
- E21-5833576777
- 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2023
- EPSRC IAA: Recombinant protein for advanced nanoparticle biosensors
- MacKenzie, Lewis (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2025
Contact
Dr
Lewis
MacKenzie
Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Email: l.mackenzie@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 7069