From 1984 until 2005 he was Fellow in Chemistry at The Queen's College, Oxford and also Senior Tutor of the college and Chairman of the University Information Technology Committee. From 2004[4] until 2008 he was Professor of Physical Chemistry and Director of Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions at the University of Edinburgh.[5] He took up the office of Provost of The Queen's College on 2 August 2008 and was succeeded by Dr Claire Craig CBE on 2 August 2019.[6][7]
He was appointed a member of the ad hoc Board of Electors to the Professorship of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge on the nomination of the Faculty Board of Chemistry.[10]