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Chemistry

In Memoriam - Keith Jennings

We have been saddened to learn that Keith R. Jennings passed away on 18th February, 2025. Keith joined the University of Warwick in its early years and was a key figure in the Department of Chemistry for 25 years. Throughout his research career, he was a one of the world-leaders in mass spectrometry and his impact is still felt today.

Keith completed his PhD under the supervision of Jack Wilfred Linnett at the University of Oxford in 1958, before becoming a postdoctoral research fellow with the National Research Council of Canada during 1958-1960. He then held Lecturer and Reader positions at the University of Sheffield during 1960-1972, before joining the University of Warwick.

Keith joined Warwick in 1972 as a Professor of Physical Chemistry and retired in 1997. During those years, he was Chairman of the Board of Science during 1983-1985 and the Chairman of the Department of Chemistry three times: 1974-1980, 1983-1986, and 1989-1995. Upon his retirement in 1997, he became an Emeritus Professor and moved to the Department of Biological Sciences (now School of Life Sciences).

Keith Jennings

Keith R. Jennings at the opening of the new Ion Cyclotron Resonance Laboratory at Millburn House, University of Warwick, in 2010.

One of the ways that Keith has left his impact upon the University of Warwick is the very name of the department where he spent so many years. The department he joined was originally referred to as Molecular Sciences, and Keith led the department’s change of name to Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, and later to simply Chemistry.

From the late 1960s, he was known as a pioneer in the collision-induced decomposition of ions by mass spectrometry. Particularly with the later advent of “soft” ionization methods, collision-induced dissociation (CID), as it is now known, became an important tool for structural elucidation and is now the most common dissociation method employed by mass spectrometers to this day.

In addition to his roles at Warwick and Sheffield, he had been the Chair of the British Mass Spectrometry Society (BMSS) twice, during 1969-1971 and 1986-1988. In recognition of his achievements, Keith has won many awards during his career. In 1985, he was one of the recipients of the Thomson Medal at the International Mass Spectrometry Conference (IMSC), the very first year of the medal being awarded. During the 1990s, he received a further three awards. These included: the American Society for Mass Spectrometry’s (ASMS) Award for Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry, the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Field and Franklin Award for Outstanding Work in Mass Spectrometry, and the British Mass Spectrometry Society’s Aston Medal. In 1997, the BMSS elected him to become a Life Member of the society.

As well as significant contributions to the field of mass spectrometry and to the University of Warwick, Keith has provided a strong legacy through the students and researchers with whom he has interacted. Dr. Mark Barrow, currently a Reader based in the Department of Chemistry, has added:

“The mass spectrometry community has lost a true giant. I was lucky enough to be taught by him when I was a student and to talk with him on many occasions when I became a researcher. Keith had played a key role in bringing FTICR (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance) mass spectrometers to Warwick over the years, and we were very pleased he joined us for the opening ceremony of the Ion Cyclotron Resonance Laboratory at Millburn House in 2010. His work on collision-induced dissociation has left a lasting impact across the world. Today, researchers everywhere can learn more about the structures of ions by performing CID experiments for themselves using the majority of mass spectrometers. When Keith retired, I remember him commenting that he had preferred that his research group did not become too big. I understood this to be because he valued his interactions with his students and he was a dedicated mentor. As I learned more about his remarkable accomplishments over time, it really struck me just how approachable, warm, and modest he was. We can all learn from him in so many respects! We will greatly miss him.”

Prof. Pat Unwin, the current Head of Department for Chemistry, has recounted fond memories:

“I arrived in Warwick’s Chemistry Department from Austin, Texas in December 1991. The weather was cold, but the welcome from Keith, as Head of Department and a fellow physical chemist, was wonderfully warm. The early 1990s were different times at Warwick, then a relatively small university. In the first few days, Keith took me along for lunch in the Senior Common Room (as we had then) to introduce me to various senior members of the University, picking up a pint along the way! In the following weeks and months, he gave detailed feedback on grant applications and encouraged me to think big. Keith was instrumental in putting Warwick Chemistry on a new track in the 1990s, growing the Department in size and stature, and leading the appointment of many excellent young academic staff members, who he did his best to support. He was immensely proud of seeing colleagues succeed.”

We offer our sincere condolences to Keith’s family. His funeral will be held at Maple ParkLink opens in a new window, near Thirsk, at 14.30 on 19th March.

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