David Hodgson completed undergraduate and Ph.D. studies at Cambridge University in 1999. He moved to the University of Toronto for post-doctoral work on conjugates of subtilisin directed towards the selective degradation of protein targets. He then moved to SUNY University at Buffalo, part-supported by a Fulbright-Royal Society Fellowship to undertake in vitro selection of ribozymes. While in Buffalo, David first experienced nucleotide synthesis and phosphorylation chemistries, which he retains as a key theme in his research group. David started his independent academic career in Durham University in 2003. In Durham he has continued to work on nucleoside, nucleotides and conjugates. He applies physico-chemical and kinetic ideas to synthesis, with a view towards developing robust, scalable methodologies. More recently, he has worked on quantifying electrophilic fluorination processes and peptide stapling.