Rate My Professor David McMorran

Dr David McMorran is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Chemistry within the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago. Holding a PhD and BSc (Hons) from the University of Otago, he has dedicated his career to chemistry education, teaching New Zealand's largest undergraduate chemistry course to over 2,000 students annually, with lectures accommodating more than 500. He also delivers bridging courses for students with limited prior chemistry knowledge, including web-based resources tailored for diverse learners such as Māori, Pasifika, and mature students, and contributes to the Health Sciences First Year programme. McMorran has been involved in Otago’s Hands-On science camps since 2004, providing research lab experiences, and participates in Science Wānanga for Māori students. He organizes the Otago Southland High School Chemistry Quiz, now in its 16th year, judges the Otago Science Fair, and hosts the Science Notes podcast on Otago Access Radio since 2010, featuring postgraduate research.

His research interests lie in metallosupramolecular chemistry, particularly assemblies using metal ions reinforced by hydrogen bonding for applications in energy conversion, catalysis, and molecular recognition, including chiral Ag(I)-containing tectons and coordination chemistry of biguanide ligands. Notable publications include "Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes containing ADA and DAD triple hydrogen bonding motifs: Potential tectons for the assembly of functional materials" (Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 2019, with A.P. McKay et al.), "Selective anion recognition by a dynamic quadruple helicate" (Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 2019, with P.J. Steel), "Orientation of AgI ions in coordination architectures through ligand conformation and anion binding: From polymeric chains to discrete squares" (European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2018, with M. Roxburgh et al.), and "Silver(I) complexes of 2,6-bis(4-pyridylsulfenyl)pyrazine: Interplay of anion coordination and argentophilic interactions" (Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2018, with J.I. Ward et al.). McMorran’s teaching excellence is recognized by the 2019 Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award for Sustained Excellence, the 2016 Otago University Students’ Association Division of Sciences Senior Teacher of the Year, 2019 OUSA Excellence in Teaching Award, Fellowship of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (2016), and Denis Hogan Prize for Chemical Education (2017).