In Memoriam: Prof. Jeremy Glennon

11 Jul 2024

It is with great sadness that we share the loss of our great friend and long-term colleague, Prof. Jeremy Glennon.

Jeremy was an internationally respected analytical chemist and leader in the field of separation science, making particular contributions in metal speciation, development of novel chromatographic supports and SFC over an illustrious career spanning nearly five decades. Jeremy began his career as an undergraduate and postgraduate in University College Dublin in the 1970s completing his thesis in ’Design of Metal Chelates with Biological Activity’ with Dr David Brown before moving to Toronto, Canada for a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute where he studied the biological chemistry of nickel (of relevance to nickel carcinogenesis). He then commenced an independent academic career in UCC in 1981. He played a key role in the development of analytical chemistry in UCC, initially under the guidance of Professor Gyula Svehla and Professor Gerry Guilbault, subsequently taking over leadership of the discipline in 2005. Collectively, they have cemented UCC as a centre of excellence for Analytical Chemistry for over 40 years.

Jeremy had an exceptional and sustained track record of publishing and disseminating his research, in more than 200 international conferences. He published more than 180 articles in peer-reviewed journals, with an h-index of 43. Over the course of his career his research has been cited more than 6500 times. Furthermore, his contribution in advancing the state-of-the-art of chromatography and chemical sensors technology culminated in the granting of three patents. Jeremy also championed the commercialisation of his research, one key example being the knowledge transfer of the Eiroshell Particle Technology into industry which resulted in an Enterprise Ireland Commercialization award. This was the precursor to the now commonplace core shell technology worldwide. In 2016 he was awarded the coveted prize of ‘Academic Award’ at the Cork Convention Bureau & Meet in Ireland Conference Ambassador Awards for hosting the 31^st International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) in Cork in 2016 (the first time this major chromatography conference was held in Ireland).

Jeremy has been the long-time regional representative of the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland and led the Analytical section in the School of Chemistry since 2005 holding the chair. His leadership and vision have been an inspiration to his colleagues and has enabled the Analytical section to grow and develop over the past two decades. He was a lead Principal Investigator and co-director of the Science Foundation Ireland Strategic Research Centre Irish Separation Science Cluster (ISSC). He was also a founding member of both the Analytical and Biological Chemistry Research Facility (ABCRF) and the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), at UCC. He pioneered the establishment of a new Chemistry with Forensic Science BSc programme and has contributed significantly as co-ordinator of the highly successful taught MSc programmes in Analytical Chemistry.

Jeremy’s track record in mentoring Ph.D. graduates is impressive, having supervised 43 PhD students and over 100 taught MSc students. His students have been highly sought after by both Academic Institutes and Industry. His research has always been ground-breaking and has set the trends in all aspects of chromatography such as novel supports, new chemistries and stationary phases which are now used widely throughout industry. His standing attracted the hosting of the International Chromatography Society’s flagship conference to Cork in 2017. Internationally, Jeremy was elected Chairman of the EuCheMS working party on Chemistry in Microsystems and also appointed to represent Ireland as a delegate in the EuChemS Division of Analytical Chemistry.

On a professional level there are so many words to describe Jeremy’s positive contributions: highly collaborative, innovative, insightful, productive and impactful. Colleagues within the School of Chemistry, and more widely across UCC, remember Jeremy fondly, and appreciated all interactions with him over the years.

On a personal level Jeremy will be remembered for his extraordinary positivity and empathy towards friends, colleagues and students - he was an advocate, humorous, infectious, disarming, inclusive, thoughtful, reassuring, generous and caring colleague and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to work with him and will be remembered as an exceptional individual and friend to all.

Obituary: Professor Jeremy Glennon | ChromSoc