Research Group
Ruth
Following my MSci degree at the University of Strathclyde, I carried out my PhD under the supervision of Professor Robin Bedford at the University of Bristol. This research focussed on the use of Rh and Pd for directing group mediated C-H functionalisation chemistry, principally for the selective formation of aryl-aryl and aryl-halide bonds. This research was supported by GSK.
In 2011 I was awarded a Government of Canada Commonwealth Research Fellowship to undertake postdoctoral research with Professor Laurel Schafer at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. This research involved the use of early transition metal, primarily Ti complexes for the synthesis of biopolymers.
In 2012 I was awarded a Bath Prize Fellowship to commence independent research in the field of catalysis with subsequent appointment to Lecturer in 2014. I was awarded an EPSRC Early Career Fellowship, which commenced in December 2017 and was promoted to Reader in 2019. I was awarded the RSC Sir Edward Frankland Fellowship and Philip Leverhulme Prize in 2022. In October 2023 I moved, along with my group, to the University of Cambridge.
Blue Roll Challenge: 5 seconds
Dr Leah Webster
Leah completed her PhD in October 2023 at Imperial College London under the supervision of Dr Mark Chadwick, focussing on titanium pincer complexes for small molecule activation. Before this she completed her MChem with International Study at the University of Manchester. She joins the group in Cambridge on an EPSRC Doctoral Fellowship. Outside of the lab, Leah enjoys running, yoga and anything Taylor Swift related.
Favourite phrase: "titanium"
RIP Blue-roll Challenge
Charlie Cavens
Charlie hasn't revealed much about herself yet. To be clear, this is not a picture of Charlie Cavens- it is a different Charlie. She is funded by GSK.
Favourite phrase: "Forest of trees"
Blue Roll Challenge: 27 seconds
Ollie Jarvis
Ollie finished his MChem at the University of Bath in 2022 and stayed on for the summer as a researcher in the Hill group. Wanting a change of scenery, Ollie started his PhD at the University of Bath in October 2022 in a research group approximately 15 meters down the hall. Having eventually settled into his new environment, Ollie could start the process of doing things regularly enough to consider them as hobbies, candidates include: reading, writing, painting, listening to podcasts, playing the piano, going to the gym, running, playing ball sports and video games. Ollie is funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant.
Favourite phrase: “I’ll get over it”
Blue Roll Challenge: 1 minute 03 seconds
Nathan Buxton
Nathan graduated from the University of Bristol in 2023 with a Master’s in Chemistry, where his final year project was with Professor Paul Pringle. Nathan started his PhD in October of 2023 at Cambridge. Outside of his PhD Nathan's hobbies include having no film knowledge, reading, Drag Race, and going out for drinks with friends. Nathan is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
Favourite phrase: "So... those kinetics..."
Blue Roll Challenge: Oh no! The blue roll challenge is no more!
Owen Jones
Owen graduated from the University of Bath in 2024 with a Master's in Chemistry, where he undertook a placement year at Malvern Panalytical and a final-year project supervised by Dr Daniel Scott. He starts his PhD at Cambridge in October 2024. Aside from chemistry, Owen enjoys running, tennis, football and spending time with his Border Collie, Joe. Owen is funded by the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry.
Abigail Halliday
Abigail graduated from Durham University in 2024 with a Master’s in Chemistry, with her final year project being completed at Université Grenoble Alpes supervised by Dr Adrien Quintard. Abigail started her PhD at the University of Cambridge in October 2024, partnered with Syngenta. Outside of the lab, Abigail enjoys playing hockey (and most other sports), baking, reading, walks with her dog, playing musical instruments (flute and bassoon), and spending time with friends. Abi's PhD is funded by Syngenta.
Aayush Singh
Aayush graduated from the University of South Florida in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry where he conducted research under the supervision of Dr. Chavdar Slavov. Aayush’s hobbies include playing (mostly losing) video games, hanging out with friends, exploring new places, and skiing. Aayush is undertaking his MPhil in the Webster and Goodman groups.
Favourite phrase: Hehe
Gary the Groundsnake
Gary is an honorary group member who blends in seamlessly to his natural environment. A natural joker, he lifts the group's spirits especially when more phenylphosphine needs synthesised. In his spare time Gary enjoys trying to come up with chemistry based puns.
Favourite words: “health and sssssafety firsssst” and "phossssphinessss"
Blue Roll Challenge: Gary doesn't have arms and the weight of a blue roll >>> weight of Gary
Former Group members
PDRAs
Dr. Samantha Lau (December 2019 - July 2023)
Dr. Thomas Hood (March 2021 - March 2023)
Dr. Danila Gasperini (February 2018 - February 2021)
Dr. Maialen Espinal-Viguri (April 2015 - October 2016)
PhD Students
Emily Pocock
Mirela Johnson (PhD defence October 2024)
Tom Linford-Wood (PhD defence April 2023)
Adam Barrett (PhD defence November 2022)
Callum Woof (PhD defence September 2021)
Cei Provis-Evans (PhD defence April 2020)
Nathan Coles (PhD defence July 2019)
Kim Gallagher (PhD defence June 2019)
Andrew King (PhD defence July 2018)
MChem, MRes and Summer Students
Phoebe Makin (24 summer student, University of Oxford)
Ben Langabeer (24 summer student)
Rhiannon Fletcher-Stones (24 NanoDTC project student)
Thomas Wright (24 Part III student)
Miriam Kaufman (24 Part III student)
Tahlia Palmer (23 MChem project student)
Alessandra James (22 MChem project student)
Iain Ross (22 MChem project student)
Leah Firmstone (21 RSC summer student)
Jamie Threadgold (20/21 MChem project student)
Isobel Thomas (20/21 MChem project student)
Ali Najmi (19/20 MChem project student)
Jonny Nevett (19/20 MChem project student)
Hugh Sanderson (19/20 MChem project student)
Stephen Andrews (18/19 MChem project student)
Alex James (18/19 MChem project student)
David Pilley (18/19 MChem project student)
Thomas Linford-Wood (2019, Catalysis CDT MRes student)
George Simmonds (17/18, MChem project student)
Dmitry Gorbachev (2017, summer student)
Jacob Boswell (2017, CSCT MRes student)
Oli Driscoll (16/17, MChem project student)
Kirsty Milne (Catalysis CDT)
Eni Minerali (Summer 2016, NSF REU student, University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
Connor Huntwork (Summer 2016, NSF REU student, Guildford College, NC)
Callum Woof (15/16, MChem project student)
Amber Kozak (Summer 2015, NSF REU student, University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
Jade Izaguirre (Summer 2015, NSF REU student, Berry College, Georgia)
Faye Wix (14/15, MChem project student)
Jonathan Hall (14/15, MChem project student)
Sarah Bent (14/15, MChem project student & RSC summer student)
Leighton Holyfield (2014, CSCT MRes student)
Madison Davidson (Summer 2014, NSF REU student, University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
Caleb Brown (Summer 2014, NSF REU student, Guildford College, NC)
Vikki Evans (13/14, BSc Nat Sci project student)
Sam Dyer (13/14, MChem project student)
Tom Jukes-Longford (12/13, MChem project student)
