Hi! I’m Dr Mike Housden and I want to play a part in democratising science education through this website and video content.
I currently teach Chemistry at the University of Cambridge as part of the Natural Sciences undergraduate course up to and including the integrated masters year. I am a specialist in synthetic Organic Chemistry, with a research background mainly in total synthesis and transition metal catalysis.
I am a College Associate Professor for teaching at Christ’s College where I am a Fellow and Director of Studies for Natural Sciences, with responsibility for the academic progress and support of our undergraduate students.
I have been responsible for the content of a number of high-stakes admissions exams for competitive sciences, maths and medicine courses at top universities – including NSAA, ENGAA, TMUA, BMAT, and IMAT. I developed the syllabuses for these exams working with partner institutions, education ministries and high schools around the world to ensure the tests were in step with UK national and international STEM curricula. This work involved using statistical techniques and data science models to learn about what types of problem-solving skills can stretch and challenge already highly achieving students, whose stand-out abilities are not well measured by traditional high school qualifications alone.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehousden/
Brief CV
2016-25: Sciences Assessment Manager for Admissions Testing (‘CAAT’), Cambridge University Press & Assessment
2011-16: Postdoctoral Research in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (University of Cambridge – research groups: Prof. Ian Paterson and Prof. Matthew Gaunt)
Qualifications
PhD – Synthetic Organic Chemistry, specifically in Total Synthesis of Polyketide Natural Products (University of Cambridge – research group: Prof. Ian Paterson)
MSci, MA – Natural Sciences, specialised in Chemistry (University of Cambridge)
MSc – Data Analytics & Technologies (Anglia Ruskin University)
Beyond Hexagons 