MEET THE TRAINING TEAM

Dr. Dawn Watson (CHROMacademy and Training Manager, Element Lab Solutions)

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, Element Lab Solutions)

After completing a degree in pharmacy, Colin pursued a career in analytical chemistry. Following six years performing routine testing and 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 Element Lab Solutions since 2011 as a technical specialist, consultant, and trainer. 

Phil Aston (Training and Technical Consultant, Element Lab Solutions) 

Phil is an experienced analytical chemist and training consultant with over 15 years of combined expertise in mass spectrometry, regulatory laboratory environments, and scientific education. He currently serves as a Technical and Training Consultant at Element Lab Solutions, where he delivers and develops training programs across a broad spectrum of analytical techniques, including 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 career includes over eight years supporting academic research in mass spectrometry, along with hands-on experience in regulatory labs focused on both organic and inorganic chemistry. Passionate about education and knowledge sharing, Philip combines technical depth with excellent communication skills, making him a trusted advisor for both technical support and training in the analytical sciences. 

Simon Harries (Training and Technical Consultant, Element Lab Solutions) 

Simon is a highly skilled analytical chemist and Technical and Training Consultant at Element Lab Solutions, specialising in chromatography and analytical method development. With over 10 years of industry experience across pharmaceutical, chemical, and contract research environments, Simon brings a wealth of practical and technical knowledge to his training and consultancy work. 
 
His career has been shaped by hands-on roles in leading organisations as a Development Analyst, where he has supported method development, validation, and troubleshooting across multiple international sites. Simon also has experience as a Stability Analyst, gaining in-depth experience in regulated GMP laboratories and developing proficiency with a wide range of analytical techniques, including HPLC, GC, LC-MS, ICP-OES, FTIR, Karl Fischer, and more. 
In his current role, Simon delivers technical training and problem-solving support to laboratories, helping teams optimise chromatographic performance, enhance data integrity, and build robust analytical capabilities. He is passionate about knowledge-sharing and advancing analytical science through practical, real-world application. Simon holds an MRes in Analytical Chemistry and a BSc in Crime Scene Science.