Professor Melissa Hanna-Brown Joins UCC as Future Pharmaceuticals Chair of Analytical Chemistry

28 Nov 2025

The inaugural Professorial Lecture by School of Chemistry Professor Melissa Hanna-Brown took place on 26 November, and was hosted by the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science.

Melissa Hanna-Brown is the UCC Future Pharmaceuticals Chair of Analytical Chemistry and a Visiting Full Professor at the University of Warwick. Her appointment forms part of UCC Futures, an ambitious programme designed to advance research excellence and innovation across strategic areas, ensuring UCC continues to lead globally in addressing societal challenges. 

Her distinguished career spans academia and industry, from King's College London to senior global leadership roles at Pfizer in analytical technology and pharmaceutical sciences. At UCC, Melissa’s research focuses on sustainable separations, pioneering green experimental and predictive approaches across all modes of separation science.

Melissa has held leadership roles within the Royal Society of Chemistry, contributed to international regulatory guidelines, and served on high-level advisory panels shaping the future of pharmaceutical science. She is also the founder and executive board chair of CAMS, a leading network bridging industry needs with academic innovation in analytical measurement science.

Professor Anita Maguire, Head of School of Chemistry and Director, Future Pharmaceuticals said, "We are delighted to welcome Melissa to UCC. Bringing her expertise, experience and international connectivity to UCC is strategically very important in achieving our goals within Future Pharmaceuticals. We look forward to exciting times ahead."