![Simon Pyke](/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/public/profile-images/7140.jpeg?itok=FzoUbqJJ)
Professor Simon Pyke
Professor
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Professor Simon Pyke has been at the University of Adelaide since 1992 (first appointed as Lecturer). Since appointment, his career has increasingly become focused on Learning & Teaching (he has held a variety of leadership roles since 2007). In 2015 he was appointed Deputy Dean (Learning & Teaching) in the Faculty of Sciences and transitioned to an 'Education Specialist' role in recognition of his expertise as a leader in learning & teaching. He then served as Deputy Dean (International) in the Faculty of Sciences (2019-2022). On retiring in 2024 he was conferred the title of Emeritus Professor.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
My research interests lie in two fields:
- Organic Chemistry
- medicinal chemistry of small bioactive molecules and their interactions with protein targets;
- bio-organic chemistry & molecular toxicology of highly reactive aldehydes;
- application of NMR spectroscopy for the determination of molecular structure,
- conformation and dynamics of small organic molecules and protein-small molecule complexes;
- natural products chemistry; - Science Education
- curriculum design, construction and assessment;
- facilitating development of skills (discipline related & generic);
- classroom practice;
- student attitudes to learning.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing Emeritus Professor University of Adelaide 2019 - 2022 Deputy Dean (International), Faculty of Sciences University of Adelaide 2015 - 2018 Deputy Dean (Learning & Teaching) University of Adelaide 2014 - 2024 Professor University of Adelaide 2011 - 2012 Acting Director, Centre for Learning & Professional Development University of Adelaide 2009 - 2013 Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2007 - 2014 Associate Dean (Learning & Quality) University of Adelaide 1998 - 2008 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 1992 - 1997 Lecturer University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2016 Fellowship Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry Royal Society of Chemistry United Kingdom - 2014 Fellowship Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia - 2014 Teaching Award Fensham Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Chemical Education Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia - 2010 Teaching Award Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide Australia - 2008 Teaching Award Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning Australian Learning & Teaching Council Australia - 2007 Teaching Award D. R. Stranks Medal for Excellence in Chemistry Education Royal Australian Chemical Institute (S.A. Branch) Australia - 2001 Teaching Award Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1985 - 1988 University of Sydney, Sydney Australia PhD 1980 - 1984 University of Sydney, Sydney Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours) -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 1989 - 1992 Postdoctoral Fellow University of East Anglia, Norwich United Kingdom -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country — Chartered Chemist Royal Australian Chemical Institute - — Chartered Chemist Royal Society of Chemistry -
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2022 Swan, E., Jayne, S., & Pyke, S. (2022). Recent Developments in Targeting "Undruggable" SH3 Domains. In J. Bronson, B. Savall, & R. Hudkins (Eds.), 2021 Medicinal Chemistry Reviews (Vol. 56, pp. 389-411). American Chemical Society. 2016 Schmid, S., Schultz, M., Priest, S., O'Brien, G., Pyke, S., Bridgeman, A., . . . Jamie, I. (2016). Assessing the assessments: Development of a tool to evaluate assessment items in chemistry according to learning outcomes. In M. Schultz, S. Schmid, & T. Holme (Eds.), Technology and Assessment Strategies for Improving Student Learning in Chemistry (Vol. 1235, 1 ed., pp. 225-244). Washington: American Chemical Society.
Scopus4 WoS22008 Taylor, R. J. K., Pyke, S. G., & Pyke, S. M. (2008). Natural products containing the cyclopentane sub-unit: Prostaglandins. In Second Supplements to the 2nd Edition of Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds: A Modern Comprehensive Treatise (Vol. 2, pp. 221-282).
Scopus41991 Taylor, R. J. K., Pyke, S. G., & Pyke, S. M. (1991). Natural products containing the cyclopentane sub-unit. In Second Supplements to the 2nd Edition of Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds (pp. 221-282). Elsevier.
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2014 Priest, S. J., Williamson, N. M., & Pyke, S. M. (2014). Capabilities and Limitations of the Advancing Science by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory Project Student Learning Evaluation Data. In Proceedings of the RACI National Congress. Adelaide. 2012 Williamson, N. M., Huang, D. M., Pyke, S. M., Willison, J., & Metha, G. F. (2012). Constructing a First Year University Chemistry Course for the ‘Late Bloomers’. In ERGA 2012 Proceedings. Adelaide. 2012 Priest, S. J., Pyke, S. M., Williamson, N. M., & Willison, J. (2012). Representations of Scientific Concepts and Learning Experience of First Year Undergraduate Students. In ERGA 2012 Proceedings. Adelaide. 2010 Barrie, S. C., Buntine, M. A., da Silva, K. B., Lim, K., Pyke, S., Sharma, M., . . . Kable, S. H. (2010). Improving student engagement in the laboratory: An initiative across all Australian universities. In ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Vol. 240 (pp. 1 page). AMER CHEMICAL SOC. 2010 Pyke, S. (2010). An initiative in introducing iPads to higher education. In The Education Research Group of Adelaid (pp. The Changing Face of Education, 24-25 September, 2010). Adelaide, Australia. 1995 Cooper, M. A., Pyke, S. M., & Ward, A. D. (1995). Unusually stable hydrates of N-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-(phenylselenenyl)methylpiperidine derivatives. Where is the water? An NMR study.. In D. G. Gorenstein (Ed.), BULLETIN OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE, VOL 17, NOS 1-4, DECEMBER 1995 (pp. 244-245). SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: INT SOC MAGNETIC RESONANCE. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2015 Pyke, S. M., Porter-Dabrowski, C., & Williamson, N. M. (2015). Student Attitudes and Approaches to Learning Chemistry: What Influences Academic Success?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education. Perth. 2014 Pyke, S. M., Porter-Dabrowski, C., & Williamson, N. M. (2014). Impact of Student Approaches to Learning on Both Their Experience and Their Performance in Problem Solving Workshop Classes: A Pilot Study. Poster session presented at the meeting of Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education. Sydney. 2012 Priest, S. J., Williamson, N. M., & Pyke, S. M. (2012). Thinking Beyond the Macro Domain of Chemistry in First Year Undergraduate Students. Poster session presented at the meeting of Poceedings of Chem Ed 2012. Adelaide. 2012 Priest, S. J., Pyke, S. M., Williamson, N. M., & Willison, J. (2012). Using Laboratory Experiences to Investigate Learning Trends in Chemistry. Poster session presented at the meeting of Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Educatio. Sydney. -
Patents
Year(s) | Title (Source) | Role | Amount |
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2015-17 | Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning: ASELL for Schools Australian Science & Mathematics Partnership Program |
Co-Investigator | $ 1,912,000 |
2014-16 | Assessing the assessments: evidencing and benchmarking student learning outcomes in chemistry Office of Learning & Teaching (Grant ID ID14-3652) |
Co-Investigator | $ 217,000 |
2009-11 | Advancing Science by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory Australian Learning & Teaching Council (Grant ID CG9-1049) |
Co-Investigator | $ 219,000 |
2009 | Clarifying and consolidating generic skill expectation and outcomes across core Level I Science Offerings University of Adelaide, Learning & Teaching Performance Fund |
Chief Investigator | $ 40,000 |
2008-10 | Developing leaders of change in the teaching of large university chemistry classes Australian Learning & Teaching Council (Grant ID LE8-818) |
Co-Investigator |
$ 111,000 |
2006 | Establishing a uniform student experience of courses University Learning & Teaching Development Grant |
Chief Investigator | $ 78,879 |
Year(s) | Title (Source) | Role | Amount |
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2006-08 | Protecting lung cells against the damaging effects of toxic chemicals present in inhaled smoke NHMRC (Application ID 403967) |
Co-Investigator | $ 447,750 |
2004-05 | Enantioselectivity in the clinical pharmacology of perhexiline: the key to a new antianginal agent? National Heart Foundation |
Co-Investigator | $ 100,000 |
Simon has been the Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science since 2007 and made substantial contributions to the design of the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program launched in 2011 (he was the inaugural Program Coordinator). He designed, developed and delivered the core course 'Principles & Practice of Science I' (2011-2016) which focused on development of core academic skills for students in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced) programs, and introduced these students to what it means to 'be a scientist'. In addition, Simon also teaches Chemistry courses from 1st year to Honours level. The quality of his teaching has been recognised by numerous awards at institutional. state and national levels.
Years | Level | Course | Section |
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1993-2006 | I | Chemistry IB | Synthetic & Bio-organic Chemistry |
2008-present | I | Chemistry IB | Molecular Shape & Structure Determination |
2011-2016 | I | Principles & Practice of Science I | Whole course |
2017 | I | Principles & Practice of Research (Advanced) I | Whole course |
2002-2006 | II | Chemistry IIA | Synthetic Chemistry |
2009-present | II | Medicinal & Biological Chemistry II | Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry |
2017 | II | Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II | Separation Science |
1993- present | III | Chemistry III | Spectroscopy & Structure Determination |
1992-2011 | Hons | Honours Chemistry | Advanced NMR Spectroscopy & Structure Determination |
2014 | Hons/PG | Demonstrator Development & Training | Whole course |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 Co-Supervisor Characterisation of Snake Venom Proteins to Inform New Advances in Biotechnology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Lewis Owen McFarlane 2020 Principal Supervisor The interplay between alternative conceptions in stoichiometry and proportionality: Does mathematical aptitude impact chemistry capability? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Kylie Quynh Do 2019 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Attitudes of Primary School Teachers Towards Science and Mathematics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Thao Hong Duong -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Development of 2-Aminoquinoline Derivatives with Improved Drug-Like Character as Small Molecule Inhibitors for a Protein-Protein Interaction Domain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Ellen Lillian Swan 2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Understanding cytochrome P450 cholesterol metabolism in bacteria Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Amna Jamal Saad Mohamed Ghith 2018 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Wild Nicotiana: Profiling the Alkaloids of Australian Species Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Samantha Dama 2018 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Monooxygenase Activity and Selectivity of Two Related Cytochrome P450 Enzymes Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Saurabh Kumar Ahirwar 2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Synthesis and Network Analysis of Substituted Bullvalenes and the Total Synthesis of Endiandric Acid J and Beilcyclone A Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ossama Yahiaoui 2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Synthesis and Applications of Substituted Bullvalenes and The Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene Derived Natural Products Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Harshal Deepak Patel 2017 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Assessing the Validity of Multiple-Choice Questions, Using them to undertake Comparative Analysis on Student Cohort Performance, and Evaluating the Methodologies Used Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jacob Rhys Marchant 2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor The Synthesis of Chromane Meroterpenoids via Biomimetic Cascade Reactions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Aaron John Day 2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor The Total Synthesis of Natural Products via Cascade Reactions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Laura Jane Burchill 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Application of the Monooxygenase Enzymes CYP101B1 and CYP101C1 from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans for Selective and Efficient Functionalisation of Inert C-H Bonds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Md Raihan Sarkar 2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Pretty Keen for a Protein: Development of Small Molecule Inhibitors for a Protein-Protein Interaction Domain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Stephanie Jayne 2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Deciphering Electron Transfer and Cytochrome P450 Activity in Mycobacterium marinum Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Stella Agnes Child 2014 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Investigations and Applications of Self-Sufficient Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Samuel Munday 2012 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Valid Measurement of Laboratory Learning Experience Quality from the Student Perspective Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Samuel James Priest 2012 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Aspects of Organoselenium Chemistry Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Virginia Ward 2011 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Investigation of a Novel Toxin Produced By A Limnothrix Cyanobacteria Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Faye Titania Whan 2007 - 2009 Principal Supervisor Isolation, Structural Elucidation and Antibacterial Activity of the Chemical Constituents of Scaevola Spinescens Master of Science Master Full Time Miss Michele Mejin 2006 - 2009 Principal Supervisor Development of 2-Aminoquinoline Derivatives as Ligands for Tec SH3 Domain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jessica Smith 2005 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Structure-function Studies and In Silico Drug Discovery Targeting the Liver Oncoprotein Gankyrin Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Iain Murchland 2004 - 2008 Principal Supervisor Investigating 2-Aminoquinoline Derivatives as Small Molecule Ligands for the Tec SH3 Domain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rhiannon Jones 2003 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Studies in Molecular, Supramolecular and Macromolecular Design Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Oscar Archer 2003 - 2006 Co-Supervisor Negative Ion Mass Spectrometry of Peptides An Aid to Structure Determination Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Daniel Bilusich 2003 - 2006 Co-Supervisor Amphibian Neuropeptides: Isolation, Sequence Determination and Bioactivity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Vita Maselli 2001 - 2005 Co-Supervisor Development of Small-Molecule Ligands for SH3 Protein Domains Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Steven Inglis 2001 - 2004 Co-Supervisor PROTECTION AGAINST a,b-UNSATURATED ALDEHYDE TOXICITY BY HYDRAZINOPHTHALAZINE COMPOUNDS. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Lisa Kaminskas
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2015 - ongoing Member Academic Board University of Adelaide Australia 2012 - 2013 Chair Chemistry Threshold Learning Outcomes Working Party ChemNet (Office of Learning & Teaching) Australia 2011 - ongoing Member Quality Assurance Integrity Panel SACE Board of South Australia Australia 2011 - 2013 Member Science & Mathematics Network (SaNnet) Steering Committee SaMnet (Office of Learning & Teaching) Australia 2009 - 2011 Member Learning & Teaching Academic Standards Advisory Group (Science) Australian Learning & Teaching Council Australia 2008 - ongoing Member Accreditation, Recognition & Certification Committee SACE Board of South Australia Australia 2006 - ongoing Member University Learning Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2006 - ongoing Member Program Approval & Entry Committee University of Adelaide Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 1995 - 2010 Member Australian & New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance Australia 1990 - ongoing Member Royal Society of Chemistry United Kingdom 1984 - ongoing Member Royal Australian Chemical Institute -
Connect With Me
External Profiles