Simon Pyke

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 interests lie in two fields:

  1. 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;
  2. Science Education
    - curriculum design, construction and assessment;
    - facilitating development of skills (discipline related & generic);
    - classroom practice;
    - student attitudes to learning.
  • 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 -
Year(s) Title (Source) Role Amount
Grants related to Learning & Teaching
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
Grants related to Research
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
Teaching responsibilities
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

 

  • 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
  • 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 -
  • Position: Professor
  • Phone: 83135358
  • Email: simon.pyke@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Badger, floor 2
  • Org Unit: Chemistry

Connect With Me
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