Dr Mark Lorch is a senior lecturer in biological chemistry at the University of Hull. He trained as a protein chemist, studying protein folding and function. His research now focuses on the chemistry of a broad range of biological systems including lipids, proteins and even plant spores.

Mark is also a dedicated science communicator, he blogs at www.chemistry-blog.com and occasionally for the Guardian. He gives regular talks to schools, the public and conferences (sometimes all at once, at science festivals or TEDx) and he occasionally pops up on the radio and TV explaining science and technology to a public audience.