Meet the CHROMacademy Technical Team
Our Technical Training Team is made up of highly skilled professional chemists with extensive industry experience. They are responsible for developing the technical learning content that powers CHROMacademy, supporting organizations in implementing CHROMacademy within their in-house training programmes, and providing direct technical support to learners. Combining practical laboratory expertise with a passion for education, the team helps chromatographers build knowledge, develop skills, and solve real-world analytical challenges.
Dawn Watson (CHROMacademy and Training Manager, Crawford Scientific)
Dawn completed her PhD in synthetic inorganic chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, followed by postdoctoral research on small molecule reaction kinetics at Princeton University. Following several years working as a field-based sales representative for a major instrument and pipette manufacturer, she became a technical expert for CHROMacademy in 2013. Her role with CHROMacademy has allowed her to produce training content over a wide range of analytical techniques, develop skills in helping companies to implement and make training successful, and to always be learning something new about analytical science!
Colin Towers (Senior Technical Support Chemist, Crawford Scientific)
After completing a degree in pharmacy, Colin pursued a career in analytical chemistry. Following three years performing routine testing and three years instrument maintenance and calibration, he moved into a role as a method development and validation specialist in contract research. Gaining 11 years’ experience in developing methods for HPLC, LC-MS, GC, GC-MS and SPE in a high throughput commercial environment, this was supplemented by three years lecturing in forensic analytical toxicology and a further three years working as a community pharmacist. Colin has now been with Crawford Scientific since 2011 as a technical specialist, consultant, and trainer.
Phil Aston (Technical and Training Consultant, Crawford Scientific)
Phil Aston is an experienced analytical chemist and training consultant with over 15 years of expertise spanning mass spectrometry, regulatory laboratories, and scientific education. As a Technical and Training Consultant at Crawford Scientific, he develops and delivers training across LC, GC, MS, and method development. Phil holds an M.Sc. in Instrumental and Analytical Methods on Biological and Environmental Chemistry from the University of Warwick and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Manchester. His background includes more than eight years supporting academic mass spectrometry research, alongside practical experience in regulatory laboratories. Combining strong technical knowledge with an engaging training style, Phil is a trusted educator and advisor in the analytical sciences.
Simon Harries (Technical and Training Consultant, Crawford Scientific)
Simon is an analytical chemist and Technical and Training Consultant at Crawford Scientific, specializing in chromatography and analytical method development. With over 10 years of experience across pharmaceutical, chemical, and contract research environments, he brings extensive practical expertise to his training and consultancy work. His career includes roles in method development, validation, troubleshooting, and stability testing within regulated GMP laboratories. Simon has hands-on experience with a broad range of analytical techniques, including HPLC, GC, LC-MS, ICP-OES, FTIR, and Karl Fischer titration.
In his current role, Simon delivers technical training and laboratory support, helping teams optimize chromatographic methods, improve data quality, and strengthen analytical capabilities. He holds an MRes in Analytical Chemistry and a BSc in Crime Scene Science.