Mark graduated in Natural Sciences (Physics) from Churchill College, Cambridge and then completed a PhD in solid state NMR in the Department of Physics, University of Warwick. He subsequently held research posts with industry Bruker Analytische in Rheinstetten, Germany and the CSIRO Division of Materials Science and Technology, Melbourne, Australia. He returned to UK academic life as a Lecturer and then Reader in Solid State NMR at the University of Kent, Canterbury before moving back to Warwick where he is now a Professor of Physics (2002) and Director for the Centre of Magnetic Resonance.

He has published over 250 papers and written a research monograph. He has been a Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellow, a past secretary of the BRSG: the Magnetic Resonance Group of the Institute of Physics and RSC reporter on Solid State NMR. He has been the Chair (equivalent of Dean) of the Faculty of Science (2005-2007) and is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Science and Medicine) and he has broad experience of key University committees.