Dr Baljit Kaur Thatti (née Ghatora)
Faculties, deparments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Head of Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor in Analytical & Forensic Chemistry
- Email:
- b.thatti@kingston.ac.uk
About
My research on ophthalmic materials and analytical techniques applied in the analysis of materials gained first prize in the Annual Materials, Minerals and Mining conference, and was also displayed at the Houses of Parliament.
I have strong industrial links that help feed into research-informed teaching and help collaborate with research grant applications. I am a futuristic diverse leader that has achieved certificate of the ILM "Different leaders Executive Development Programme" and has taken part in the StellarHE leadership programme.
I have established, led and maintained active research programmes in the interdisciplinary field of medical devices and the application of analytical science to Forensics/criminology. I am a Bond Solon trained expert witness.
Research grants include:
- Royal Society of Chemistry researcher mobility and early career research grants to the value of £5,000.00
- £130,000 Innovate UK grant
I am equally passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists and have led on university-wide initiatives for outreach programmes as well as being engaged in creating an inclusive environment in chemistry and related subjects. These initiatives have led to some of the following grants:
- RSC missing elements grant (£97,000)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion grant "Supporting inclusion and encouraging diversity in Chemistry - where do you see yourself?: £2,500
- Royal Society Partnership grant: £2,000
- RSC outreach grant for a "Chemistry Art collaboration": £2,500
I have gained experience in applying and providing supporting documents for accreditation of degrees, as well as validation of internal and external programmes. I was responsible for setting up and managing the departments personal tutor system and was awarded the Student Led Personal Tutor of The Year award in 2016. I am an ambassador of equality and diversity and have nationally assessed Athena SWAN applications as well as National Panel Chair for Race Equality Charter.
Qualifications
- PhD Analytical Chemistry & Materials Science
- BSc Pharmaceutical Science
- Senior Fellow of Advance HE
- Bond Solon trained expert witness
Domains
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow of Advance HE
- Diploma of Education & Training (DET)
- Award in Education & Training (AET)
- Bond Solon Trained Expert Witness
Course director
Courses taught
I have built a strong interest in analytical techniques used in materials and forensic research. I have supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate students within this interdisciplinary research area, including applying analytical techniques to blood pattern analysis, plasticisers in polymers, aging and degradation studies, sterilisation studies and biomaterial applications. I was awarded a knowledge transfer partnership grant (£130,000) to collaborate with a world leading intraocular lens manufacturer to investigate the development of new ophthalmic materials. This area of research has gained interest with international university collaborations and subsequent grants are currently being prepared with Erasmus partners.
More recently, I have been awarded an RSC award to supervise analytical-based research with undergraduate students in collaboration with a contact lens manufacturer. Equally I have gained funding from the Royal Society Partnership grant to promote the application of "chemistry" in Forensic science.
RSC Admissions committee member
This role involves considering and advising the Professional Standards Board on the admission of members to the Royal Society of Chemistry and on the professional designation of Chartered Chemist. This role has an impact on the wider chemistry community.
Bond Salon Trained Expert
I am trained to be able to provide scientific expertise in forensic case work.
STEM NET ambassador
Within this volunteering role I engage in designing and delivering activities to local primary, secondary and college students with the aims of raising aspirations, illuminating careers and supporting their curriculum learning.
Certified Mentor (Royal Society of Chemistry & recognised by UK National Mentoring Consortium)
As a certified mentor I have been matched up with individuals across the UK where I provide mentoring to help individuals pursue personal and professional development. mentee quotes "Baljit has had an impact of how I see myself as a merging professional within the institution", "Baljit provided me with a clear understanding of how to progress within the university and deeper understanding of my own career goals".
- Kingston Educational Trust Trustee
- OCN Access to HE Diploma Validation Panel Member
- I'm A Scientist Get Me Out of Here Volunteer (2015)
I volunteered to be involved in the online "I'm a Scientist get me out of here" event that takes place annually, where schools and colleges submit questions to be answered by researchers/professionals within science. The impact report can be found here.
Professional and scholarly affiliations
- Fellow RSC
- Member Chartered Society of Forensic Science
- Member of Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University Roles
- As the University Co-Chair for the Race Equality Charter Mark (2020-present) I am working towards creating a more inclusive culture at Kingston University for both staff and students.
- Having completed the Stellar HE leadership programme, I have gone onto take part in several external events focussed on creating a diverse leadership pool such as "Different Women, Different Places"
Qualifications and expertise
- ILM
- Advance HE-Race Equality Charter Mark Panel Chair
- Royal Society of Chemistry Nominations Committee member
University responsibilities
- Race Equality Charter Co-chair
- EDI committee member
- Network of Equality Champions member
- Internal Subject Reviews and Validation Panel member
- FHEA, SFHEA applications reviewer
Public and Civic roles
- RSC Downland section committee member (EDI Lead)
- Certified Mentor (Royal Society of Chemistry & recognised by UK National Mentoring Consortium)
- Kingston Educational Trust Trustee
- Advance HE- Race Equality Charter Mark Panel Chair
- RSC Admissions committee member
Publications
Near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to classify cosmetic foundations from a crime scene
Banyard, Alana, Skobeeva, Svetlana, Thatti, Baljit, Rooney, Brian, Fletcher, John and Thatti, Ravtej, 2022, (62), 3, pp 327-335
Development of a gas-tight syringe headspace GC-FID method for the detection of ethanol, and a description of the legal and practical framework for its analysis, in samples of English and Welsh motorists' blood and urine
Taylor, Luke, Saskőy, Lili, Brodie, Tara, Remeškevičius, Vytautas, Moir, Hannah Jayne, Barker, James, Fletcher, John, Thatti, Baljit Kaur, Trotter, Gavin and Rooney, Brian, 2022, Molecules (27), 15, pp 4771
Determination of ethanol in micro-volumes of blood by headspace gas chromatography : statistical comparison between capillary and venous sampling sites
Taylor, Luke, Remeskevcius, Vytautas, Saskoy, Lili, Brodie, Tara, Mahmud, Jeshan, Moir, Hannah, Brouner, James, Howe, Christopher, Thatti, Baljit, O'Connell, Sein, Trotter, Gavin and Rooney, Brian, 2021, Medicine Science and the Law (61), 2, pp 86-96
Toxicological assessment of the role of alcohol and drugs in drug-facilitated sexual assault cases in New Zealand
Poulsen, Helen, McCarthy, Mary-Jane, Baker, Jessica, Verma, Avnish, Moir, Hannah J, Brodie, Tara, Thatti, Baljit, Trotter, Gavin and Rooney, Brian, 2021, Journal of Analytical Toxicology (45), 1, pp 44-52
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) plasma treatment of medical grade poly(methyl methacrylate)
Zanini, Stefano, Papagni, Antonio, Vaghi, Luca, Thatti, Baljit Kaur, Barton, Stephen, Williams, Neil, Shokri, Navid and Riccardi, Claudia, 2020, Coatings (10), 2, pp 135
Inter-professional learning across the forensic science and paramedic science degrees
Ghatora, Baljit, Renshaw, Layla, Burrell, Lisa and Doran, David, 2017, Journal of Forensic Research and Analysis (1), 1
Incorporating entrepreneurship skills into chemistry and related curriculums
Ghatora, Baljit and Strutt, Robert, 2017, New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences (12), 1
Surface perfluoroalkyl chains segregation : a tool for reducing calcium deposits in medical grade poly(methyl methacrylate)
Ghatora, Baljit K., Foot, Peter J.S., Barton, Stephen J., Thatti, Ravtej S., Papagni, Antonio and Vaghi, Luca, 2017, Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology (8), pp 176-187
Determination of beryllium concentrations in UK ambient air
Goddard, Sharon.L., Brown, Richard.J.C. and Ghatora, Baljit, 2016, Atmospheric Environment (147), pp 320-329
Understanding student motivations and career aspirations so that we can effectively support our graduates
Page, Nigel, Taylor-Steeds, Emma, Carey, Louise, Siaw, Evelyn, Gurnett, Kelly, Ait Belkacem, Lydia and Ghatora, Baljit, 2016, New Directions in the Teaching of Physics (11), 1
Intraocular lens calcification after DSEK : a mechanism and preventive technique
Lacey, Joseph, Ghatora, Baljit, Foot, Peter, Barton, Stephen and De Cock, Romain, 2016, Cornea (35), 9, pp e28-e30
Nanoparticle-laden contact lens for controlled ocular delivery of prednisolone : formulation optimization using statistical experimental design
ElShaer, Amr, Mustafa, Shelan, Kasar, Mohamad, Thapa, Sapana, Ghatora, Baljit and Alany, Raid G., 2016, Pharmaceutics (8), 2, pp E14
The effect of direct gas fluorination on medical grade poly(methyl methacrylate)
Ghatora, Baljit K., Barton, Stephen J., Foot, Peter J. S. and Miller Tate, Philip, 2014, Open Journal of Organic Polymer Materials (4), 4, pp 74-83
ElShaer, Amr, Ghatora, Baljit, Mustafa, Shelan and Alany, Raid G, 2014, Therapeutic Delivery (5), 10, pp 1085-1100
The effects of gamma irradiation on medical grade poly(methyl methacrylate)
Barton, Stephen J., Foot, Peter J. S., Miller Tate, Philip C., Kishi, Mariko and Ghatora, Baljit, 2013, Polymers and Polymer Composites (21), 1, pp 1-8
The effects of gamma sterilisation of PMMA for implanted intra-ocular lenses
Foot, Peter J.S., Ghatora, Baljit, Barton, Steve and Sabbagh, Bassem, 2011, Medical Plastics News, pp 32-34
Investigating polymer degradation with triple detection GPC/SEC
Foot, P.J.S., Ghatora, Baljit, Barton, Steve and Sabagh, Bassem, 2011, Separation Science (3), 6, pp 2-7
Effects of gamma-ray sterilization on high molecular weight PMMA for biomedical applications
Ghatora, Baljit (2010). Malvern, U.K.: (Malvern Instruments Ltd.)
It's good to talk : how are we collaboratively designing a new school wide curriculum?
Wason, Hilary, Thatti, Baljit, Spendiff, Owen, Forster-Wilkins, Gary, Page, Nigel, Dorak, Mehmet, Williams, Neil, Reid, Tamara and Brasilero, Gabriela(2024). In: Festival of Learning 2024, 20 Jun 2024 :Kingston upon Thames, U.K.
Enhancing student awareness of the UN Sustainable Goals with an EDI lens
Thatti, Baljit, Fonseca, Tania and Mulrooney, Hilda(2023). In: UK and Ireland HEIR Network 2023 Annual Conference : Addressing Equity in Higher Education through Institutional Research, 07-08 Sep 2023 :Kingston upon Thames, U.K.
Exploring transformative learning and teaching to enhance awareness of the UN Sustainable Goals with an EDI lens
Thatti, Baljit, Dias Almeida Fonseca, Tania and Mulrooney, Hilda(2023). In: Festival of Learning 2023, 22 Jun 2023 :Kingston upon Thames, U.K.
Supporting inclusion and encouraging diversity in chemistry
Freestone, Nicholas and Thatti, Baljit(2019). In: Redefining Success: Royal Society of Chemistry Inclusion and Diversity Forum 2019, 05 Nov 2019 :London, U.K.
The use of co-curricular activities to increase student engagement on interdisciplinary degree courses and instil graduate outcomes
Ghatora, Baljit, Freestone, Nicholas and Rooney, Brian(2018). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, 28-29 Jun 2018 :Hull, U.K.
Personal tutors and tutees perceptions of a personal tutoring system
Thatti, Baljit, Freestone, Nicholas and Ali, Salma(2018). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference : Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, 28-29 Jun 2018 :Hull, U.K.
Can we use interdisciplinary outreach programmes to uncover the myths about chemistry?
Ghatora, Baljit, Christie, Gillian and Cannon, James(2017). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy 2017, 29-30 Jun 2017 :Edinburgh, U.K.
Understanding student motivators, aspirations and employability engagement and their effects on the student journey to final employment destinations
Page, Nigel, Ait Belkacem, Lydia, Gurnett, Kelly, Siaw, Evelyn, Carey, Louise, Ghatora, Baljit, Forster-Wilkins, Gary and Steeds, Emma(2016). In: Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) Network Conference 2016: Metrics that matter: future directions for qualitative and quantitative institutional research, 7-8 Sep 2016 :Liverpool, U.K.
Understanding student motivations and career aspirations so that we can effectively support our graduates
Page, Nigel, Steeds, Emma, Carey, Louise, Siaw, Evelyn, Gurnett, Kelly, Ait Belkacem, Lydia and Ghatora, Baljit(2016). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference 2016: Making Connections and Sharing Pedagogy, 30 Jun - 01 Jul 2016 :Leicester, U.K.
Collaborative learning across the forensic science and paramedic science degrees
Ghatora, Baljit, Renshaw, Layla, Doran, David and Burrell, Lisa(2016). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections and Sharing Pedagogy, 30 Jun - 01 Jul 2016 :Leicester, U.K.
Chemical tyre rubbers analysis with analytical techniques for the discrimination of car's tyre samples and the subsequent matching to their skid marks
Breidi, Salah Eddine, Barker, James, Barton, Steve and Ghatora, Baljit(2014). In: World Forensic Festival 2014, 12 - 18 Oct 2014 :Seoul, Korea
Discrimination of car tyre rubber samples using ICP-MS, ATR-IR and pyrolysis GC-MS and the subsequent matching to skid marks
Breidi, Salah, Barker, James, Barton, Stephen and Ghatora, Baljit(2014). In: World Forensic Festival 2014, 12 - 18 Oct 2014 :Seoul, Korea
Post-operative complications of poly (methyl methacrylate) employed in intraocular lenses
Ghatora, Baljit(2012). In: Recent appointees in Materials Science, 05 - 07 Sep 2012 :Glasgow, U.K.
Investigation into the causes of post-operative calcification in intraocular lenses
Ghatora, Baljit, Foot, Peter, Barton, Stephen and Kishi, Mariko(2008). In: Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Annual Conference 2008, 13-15 May 2008 :Grantham, U.K.
Investigation into the causes of post-operative calcification in intraocular lenses
Ghatora, Baljit, Foot, Peter, Barton, Stephen and Kishi, Mariko(2007). In: 35th European Federation of the Contact Lens and IOL Industries Conference, 11-13 Oct 2007 :Malaga, Spain
Investigation into the calcification and aging of intraocular lenses
Ghatora, Baljit (2010), PhD thesis, Kingston University
Gallery of work
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Collection of Race Equality Charter Award 2019
