A picture of Steve Shearan, wearing a red lab coat.

Dr Stephen Shearan

Teaching Fellow in Chemistry
Chemistry

Welsh language proficiency

Basic Welsh Speaker

About

As a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Chemistry, I teach across a broad range of the undergraduate curriculum from foundation level through to final year on both the BSc and MChem programmes. My teaching spans the core areas of chemistry, with particular strengths in inorganic and materials chemistry. In Years 3 and 4, I deliver more advanced and applied sessions on topics such as “The Chemistry of Forensic Science” and "Metal-organic frameworks." Prior to this role, I served as a teaching tutor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, covering topics such as heat transfer, sustainability and sustainable development, desalination, and gas separation and purification. 

My academic background is complemented by experience in large-scale industrial manufacturing, which informs my approach to teaching chemical principles, process thinking, and real-world problem solving. I am especially interested in bridging the gap between academic chemistry and professional practice, helping students develop both technical competence and scientific judgement.

Additional to teaching, I am also the Outreach Officer within the Chemistry Department, and take the lead on the amazing outreach programme developed by Professor Simon Bott, which consistently sees more than 2000 school students per year doing experiments in the departments teaching laboratory. 

Areas Of Expertise

  • Metal-organic Frameworks
  • Porous Materials
  • Carbon Capture and Utilisation
  • Carbon Capture Materials
  • Photocatalysis
  • Metal Phosphonates
  • Organophosphonate Chemistry
  • Forensic Science/Chemistry

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Reflecting my wide-ranging interests, my teaching also spans multiple disciplines within chemistry. A significant portion of my work involves teaching fundamental chemistry at foundation and first-year levels, where I focus on fostering robust conceptual understanding and building scientific confidence in students transitioning into higher education. At advanced levels, my teaching concentrates on my specialist areas, including inorganic and materials chemistry, and forensic chemistry. I am committed to leveraging this broad experience to provide students with a rich and engaging experience of chemistry. My approach is grounded in inclusive, evidence-based teaching, supporting students in developing the analytical and transferable skills essential for careers both within chemistry and academia, and beyond.

Research