Professor Raymond Murphy, BSc, CEng, FIChemE, CChem, FRSC (died 3 October 2022, aged 83)
Obituary provided by Denise Price, PPRC Manager and Lorraine Marks, Head of KTP
Raymond Murphy graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a BSc (1st class honours) in Applied Science and Technology in 1962 and was employed as Works Chemist and Plant Manager in Richardson’s Fertilisers Ltd before becoming a Lecturer in Chemical Technology in The Belfast College of Technology in 1966 and Senior Lecturer in 1969. The course moved to Queen’s University Belfast in 1971 and Raymond moved with it.
Raymond developed the modules, designed the laboratories and specified all of the equipment for the new Chemical Engineering degree, that just one year later would be accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Raymond taught almost every chemical engineering subject, refining content and designing new content and laboratory projects at all levels. He was Head of School from 1987 until 1997 and he also served as Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Engineering.
In 1999 he initiated undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Chemical with Polymer Engineering and in the year 2000 he was instrumental in establishing a Work Based Learning Master's Degree with the then Institute of Lifelong Learning. In 2003 he initiated three modules for a European exchange "Polymer Processing and Fabrication" Master’s course in association with Universities in France and Spain. He supervised over 40 research students, published more than 200 papers and contributed to chapters in 10 books. Raymond was awarded a personal chair, becoming Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1994 and he acted as an external examiner in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Athlone.
His contribution to the wider University management was immense, as Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Engineering, Member of Academic Board, Member of University Lodgings Committee, Chairman of University Safety Committee, Member of Academic Council, Member of University Management Information Services Committee, Member of Central Students Progress Committee, Chairman of Interfaculty Committee on Food Engineering, and as a member of various ad hoc committees and working parties.
Raymond’s primary research interests lay in polymers which led him to found the Polymer Processing Research Centre (PPRC) along with Co-Director, the late Professor Roy Crawford (https://daro.qub.ac.uk/pages/2016-rebrand/news/obits-pages/-obit-roy-crawford), in 1996 before becoming PPRC Director in 1999.
The PPRC was built upon his work with industry. His vision was to equip students and academic researchers with the knowledge and skills required by industry and to position the University as an international Centre of Excellence for polymer processing.
Raymond was not only ahead of his time with the creation of the PPRC, he was also keen to ensure that his and the University’s research output would be relevant and accessible to local, national and international industry. In 1994 he established the KTP Office to support the University’s growing number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (formerly Teaching Company Scheme and TCS). Almost 30 years, and 500 projects later, Queen’s KTP engagement has been the standard-bearer for the whole of the UK, consistently topping the UK league table for both quantity and quality. In October 2022, Queen’s won their 22nd National award, securing the Best KTP in the UK for a 4th time.
Raymond maintained contact with his former colleagues in the University beyond his retirement in 2004 and he always retained an interest and pride in the achievements of the many people who have passed through its doors. The diaspora of former students, KTP Associates and colleagues now working in academia and industry across the world are testament to his vision. The condolences shared on their learning of his passing are witness to the admiration and affection in which he was held.
Raymond is survived by his wife Lynn and daughters Jane and Karen.
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