Mark Penny

Experience

• 

  Swansea University

  Oct 2006 - now

  I provided high quality research bid writing support and professional line management to the bid writing activity across Swansea University. I proactively work with academics in the preparation, drafting, and editing of funding applications to ensure that all applications are well-written, of a high quality,and accessible to lay readers. Based within the Research Engagement & Innovation Services (REIS), I adopt a peripatetic approach to working with College Based Hubs to support activities that identify appropriate funding calls and prioritise University responses to external funding opportunities in conjunction with potential investigators ensuring compliance with University policies and procedures, and funding providers’ guidelines. Show less I was responsible for research development for the Colleges of Engineering and Human Health Science. This was a varied and demanding role, where the ability to manage my time and prioritise is crucial. This position involved finding and disseminating research opportunities and building a rapport with academics, in order to target specific opportunities and help develop collaborative activities. I review and advise grant submissions both in terms of the actual prose and ensuring they are correctly costed. I also worked on drafting collaboration agreements on awards. I specialised inmultiple funding streams, including RCUK, TSB, NIHR, NISCHR, Leverhulme, the Royal Society and many charities. In addition I worked heavily on getting the departments ready for Horizon 2020, outlining proposals based upon the current draft work packages. Show less This position focused on high content imaging and analysis of cells for therapeutic and nanotoxicology applications, coordinating with Dr. Rita Serda at the Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston, Texas. This post built on my expertise in microscopy whilst developing new skills in the area of flow cytometry and in using the IN Cell Analyser. Due to the vast quantity of data generated by these experiments I am developing algorithms to automate analysis in MATLAB. In addition to this I have learnt cell culturing protocols, and dosed U2-OS and HFF cells with a variety of nanomaterials, including PEI coated quantum dots grown by collaborators at Texas A&M University. Show less This project involved developing a point of care diagnostic system to characterise and monitor blood coagulation, for the EPSRC Grand Challenge in Nanotechnology for Healthcare. At the heart of the device is an array of ZnO nanowires, where their piezoelectric properties are exploited to act as a nanoscale rheometer. Just prior to the award I accurately measured the current induced by mechanical stress in individual nanowires. This crucial proof of principle formed the basis of the proposal which was ranked first in the UK - in EPSRC’s priority order for funding - awarding Swansea £1.9million over three years. Show less Through this position I was the first academic at Swansea to explore the growth and characterisation of metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures. This has since developed into major research theme for the centre. In 2008 I arranged to spend time working in Dr. Z.L. Wang’s laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Dr. Z.L. Wang is widely credited for the discovery of metal oxide semiconductor nanowires and is the world leader in this field. Nanostructures were grown via chemical vapour deposition and hydrothermally. SEM was extensively used to characterise the growth, giving a valuable insight into the growth mechanism. Additionally, I characterised the fundamental properties of individual nanostructures using a variety scanning probe microscopy techniques. Show less

  • Hub Manager - Faculty of Science and Engineering

    Jan 2020 - now

  • Hub Manager - Arts, Humanities and Law

    Jan 2017 - Dec 2019

  • Senior Research Development Bid Writer

    Aug 2015 - Dec 2016

  • External Funding Officer

    Nov 2013 - Jul 2015

  • Senior Research Officer

    Mar 2013 - Nov 2013

  • Senior Research Officer

    Feb 2012 - Mar 2013

  • ESPRC Grand Challenge - Named Senior Research Officer

    May 2009 - Jan 2012

  • Senior Research Assistant

    Oct 2006 - May 2009