My research interests fall under the general category of materials chemistry, and are particularly focused on crystal growth. In this context, my group is examining routes to produce inorganic and organic crystals with defined properties including polymorph, size, morphology, organisation and mechanical properties. Within this topic there is considerable emphasis on biological crystallisation processes, and natural systems such as seashells, bones and teeth are used as an inspiration for the development of novel crystal growth strategies. These experiments also enable us to better understand natural crystal growth phenomena. A broad range of projects are carried out, employing analytical techniques including scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A number of current projects are described below.