Robert Pal grew up in Hungary and graduated from KLTE University of Debrecen, in 2004. Once completing his undergraduate studies he has moved to Durham to start a Ph.D with Professor David Parker on Responsive Luminescent Lanthanide systems. Completing his Ph.D in late 2007 he began to work as a Postdoctoral researcher within the Parker group, also working closely with Professor Andrew Beeby, moving away from organic chemistry towards bio-physical chemistry, spectroscopy and microscopy. In 2014 he has been awarded with a prestigious University Research Fellowship from the Royal Society to study the Development and Chemical Application of Phase Modulation Nanoscopy.

Robert is also the Technical Director of a successful University spin out company, FScan Ltd, which has developed lanthanide technology to be used as part of a novel test for Prostate Cancer detection that is currently part of an ongoing clincial trial. 

He has also founded PB Spectroscopy limited alongside Prof. Andrew Beeby, a company that is dedicated for the development of miniaturised and affordable spectroscopic instrumentation and solutions.