Tom Welton

Tom Welton
Name	Tom Welton
Birth date	1964
Birth place	London
Nationality	United Kingdom
Fields	Chemistry
Workplaces	Imperial College London
Alma mater	University of Oxford; University of York
Known for	Research on ionic liquids; leadership in higher education

Tom Welton is a British chemist and academic leader known for pioneering work on ionic liquids and for leading initiatives on diversity and inclusion in higher education. He has held senior roles at Imperial College London, combining research in physical chemistry with institutional leadership and public engagement. His career spans contributions to scientific societies, industry partnerships, and national policy discussions.

Early life and education

Welton was born in London and educated at institutions in the United Kingdom. He studied chemistry at the University of Oxford and completed doctoral research at the University of York under supervision that connected to experimental and theoretical studies in physical chemistry. His early training included exposure to laboratory techniques prevalent at Royal Society-affiliated research groups and collaborations with researchers linked to Royal Institution networks.

Academic career and research

Welton developed a research programme focused on the physical properties and applications of ionic liquids, contributing to understanding of solvation, reaction media, and separation processes. His publications explored interactions between ionic liquids and organic substrates, addressing challenges relevant to the Chemical Society community and to industrial partners such as companies operating in the pharmaceutical industry and petrochemical sectors. He collaborated with research groups across institutions including University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Manchester, ETH Zurich, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to examine spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and kinetic aspects of novel solvents.

His laboratory combined experimental techniques drawn from spectroscopy laboratories at national facilities such as Diamond Light Source and from computational approaches used in groups at Max Planck Institute affiliates. Projects under his supervision intersected with themes promoted by funding bodies including Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Royal Society schemes, and innovation programmes linked to the European Research Council. He served on editorial boards and peer-review panels for journals and societies including the Royal Society of Chemistry and contributed to consensus reports shaping research priorities in sustainable chemistry.

Leadership at Imperial College London

At Imperial College London he advanced from lecturer to full professor and then to senior administrative roles, including Head of Department and later Dean-level responsibilities. His leadership encompassed strategic planning for faculties associated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and coordination with units such as the Department of Chemistry, the Grantham Institute, and cross-disciplinary centres that engage with King's College London and University College London on shared initiatives. He played a role in research commercialization pathways, liaising with technology transfer offices and organisations like Innovate UK and industry partners in the chemical engineering sector.

Welton represented Imperial on national bodies and advisory boards, contributing to discussions with entities such as the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the UK Research and Innovation landscape, and science policy forums linked to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He also engaged with international collaborations spanning the Association of Commonwealth Universities and research networks that include universities in China and United States institutions, fostering student exchange and joint research projects.

Diversity and inclusion advocacy

Welton became prominent for advocacy on equality, diversity, and inclusion across scientific institutions and professional societies. He worked with organisations such as the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, and higher education consortia to promote inclusive hiring, career progression, and retention policies. His initiatives included mentoring programmes, unconscious bias training, and public statements supporting underrepresented groups across STEM communities, with outreach to networks like Women in Science groups and LGBTQ+ professional associations.

He spoke at conferences hosted by bodies such as the European Commission research directorates and contributed to policy dialogues alongside leaders from Wellcome Trust and Gates Foundation-funded projects. His leadership fostered institutional commitments at Imperial to address systemic barriers, aligning with charter frameworks promoted by organisations like the Athena SWAN programme and international diversity benchmarks used by multi-institution consortia.

Awards and honours

Welton's contributions have been recognised by prizes, fellowships, and honorary roles from professional societies and universities. He has been elected to fellowships and received awards from organisations including the Royal Society of Chemistry and national academic institutions. He has held visiting and honorary appointments with international partners, and has been invited to deliver named lectures at venues such as the Royal Institution and major conferences convened by the American Chemical Society and the European Chemical Society.

Category:British chemists Category:Academics of Imperial College London Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:Alumni of the University of York