Introducing Mark O’Connor

Many of you will know Mark O’Connor from his time in the IRMS sector, most recently at Sercon Instruments, which he joined in 2001 and sold last year to Techcomp.

Mark took on his current role, MD of Isolab Scientific, at the same time; a business he has created from the assets of ISO Analytical, purchased in 2024 following its voluntary liquidation.

Since the acquisition, Mark’s main achievement has been successfully transitioning and modernising the lab while maintaining its reputation for high-quality isotope analysis. He explained “We’ve kept strong relationships with clients, strengthened operations, and invested in new lab equipment to enhance our analytical capabilities and support future growth.”

And what about the future?

Mark’s ambition for Isolab Scientific is to expand its reach as a trusted provider of stable isotope analysis by building stronger relationships with universities, research institutions, and commercial clients worldwide. “I’d like to see the lab build on the growth we have already seen in our global client base while continuing to invest in analytical capabilities and turnaround times to ensure our service offering rivals the very best in the market.”

A interest in science came second to engineering for Mark, who’s main interest at school was in the engineering he needed to build bikes and motorbikes. The science bug didn’t really kick in until he joined an sub contractor business through the YTS scheme, building a lot of VG instruments. His interest grew from that from that, and as he built his skills and knowledge, he was tasked with helping build instruments for a new start up, Europa Scientific, who he would eventually work for.

Outside work, Mark’s very interested in motorsports and football (the family supports Liverpool FC as you can see in this photo), both watching live and on TV whenever he can. “As a family, we also enjoy going on country walks, usually with our dog Archie, who comes with my wife Jo and I wherever we go and even likes to come into work from time to time,” he explained. “My son Jack, who is 14, plays football and is also keen on fishing, which keeps me busy supporting his hobbies.”