Dr. Crook obtained a BSc in Chemistry with Polymer Chemistry in 1995. This was followed by a MSc in polymer chemistry from Lancaster University and a PhD from Aston University in 2000. In 2000 he became a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sheffield working, a post held until 2006. His research centered around polymer synthesis and responsive polymers, and he was involved in the exciting Wonderland project at the art-science interface. In 2007 he was appointed as a university teacher in physical chemistry. He is fortunate to lecture in some of his favourite areas of chemistry, namely smart polymers and polymer characterization, and runs the Level 2 physical chemistry laboratory and the MSc polymer laboratory. He is currently the Director of Studies for the MSc: Polymers for Advanced Technologies.

Parnell AJ, Martin SJ, Dang CC, Geoghegan M, Jones RAL, Crook CJ, Howse JR & Ryan AJ (2009) Synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviour of poly(methacrylic acid) brushes synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization. POLYMER, 50(4), 1005-1014. Parnell AJ, Martin SJ, Jones RAL, Vasilev C, Crook CJ & Ryan AJ (2009) Direct visualization of the real time swelling and collapse of a poly(methacrylic acid) brush using atomic force microscopy. SOFT MATTER, 5(2), 296-299. Topham PD, Howse JR, Crook CJ, Armes SP, Jones RAL & Ryan AJ (2007) Antagonistic triblock polymer gels powered by pH oscillations. MACROMOLECULES, 40(13), 4393-4395. Ryan AJ, Topham P, Crook CJ, Howse JR & Jones RAL (2006) PMSE 153-Analysis of the effect of temperature on the weathering of polymeric materials. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 232, 506-506. Geoghegan M, Ruiz-Pérez L, Dang CC, Parnell AJ, Martin SJ, Howse JR, Jones RAL, Golestanian R, Topham PD, Crook CJ, Ryan AJ, Sivia DS, Webster JRP & Menelle A (2006) The pH-induced swelling and collapse of a polybase brush synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Soft Matter, 2(12), 1076-1080. Geoghegan M, Ruiz-Perez L, Dang CC, Parnell AJ, Martin SJ, Howse JR, Jones RAL, Golestanian R, Topham PD, Crook CJ, Ryan AJ, Sivia DS, Webster JRP & Menelle A (2006) The pH-induced swelling and collapse atom transfer radical polymerization. SOFT MATTER, 2(12), 1076-1080. Topham PD, Howse JR, Crook CJ, Parnell AJ, Geoghegan M, Jones RAL & Ryan AJ (2006) Controlled growth of poly (2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brushes via atom transfer radical polymerisation on planar silicon surfaces. POLYM INT, 55(7), 808-815. Crook CJ, Fairclough PA, Jones RAL & Ryan AJ (2006) A toolbox approach to adhesive design. REACT FUNCT POLYM, 66(1), 41-49.