OUR TEAM

 
 
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BEN EGLESTON

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

Ben completed his PhD with Prof. Andy Cooper FRS in 2021 at the Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, after carrying out research on porous liquids based on organic materials. Now Ben works with Becky as a research associate in the Molecular Sciences Research Hub working on new phases of organic sorbent materials, and more!

 
 
 

Josh Humphreys

Postdoctoral Researcher

Josh completed his MChem at the University of Warwick (2014), before undertaking a PhD at the University of Nottingham(2018) with Professor David Amabilino working on the synthesis and characterisation of novel derivatives of diketopyrrolopyrrole for optoelectronic applications. This was followed by postdoctoral research on urea based macrocycles for anion binding and sensing in water with Professor Vladimir Sindelar at Masaryk University(2020-2021), and then work on the synthesis and characterisation of small molecule organics for supramolecular optoelectronic applications with Dr Amparo Ruiz-Carretero at the University of Strasbourg (2021-2022). Since 2022 Josh has worked as a postdoc with Becky on various synthetic based projects.

 
 
 

Xue Fang

Postdoctoral Researcher

Xue completed her MRes and PhD in Chemistry with Prof. Charl F. J. Faul and Dr Natalie Fey at the University of Bristol. Her research focused on developing quantitative solvent selection methodologies for porous organic polymers and supramolecular polymers to support data-driven experimental research. Currently, she is a PDRA with Dr Becky Greenaway at Imperial and the AIchemy Hub, working on generalisable automated chemistry research workflows using multi-fidelity machine learning and generative AI. Beyond science, Xue is also an art lover and an active gym runner.

 
 
 

Liam Welch

Research Technical Professional

Liam completed his MChem at the University of Liverpool, performing research projects on nanotechnology and CO2 reduction. Liam then pursued a materials chemistry PhD as part of the EPSRC CDT-PV for New and Sustainable Photovoltaics. The focus of his PhD was the solution-based fabrication and characterisation of chalcogenide photovoltaics. Now Liam works with Becky to help design and set up robotic workflows for the automation of high-throughput processes, as well as assisting in the day to day management of the lab.

 
 
 

RUBY MOREL

4th YEAR PHD

Ruby completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry (MChem) at Keele University, during which time, she was awarded the Harold Springall award, MChem Third Year award, Gurnos Jones award and the undergraduate RSC bursary to complete an independent research project. This project focused on Stabilising Coordination Architectures through Outer-Sphere Hydrogen Bonding. Her work with Dr. Chris Hawes, during her final year at Keele, investigated Fluorescent Molecular Rotor Based-MOFs as Chemical Sensors. This work on porous solids led her to pursue a PhD studentship with Dr Becky Greenaway on Molecular Assembly in Porous Liquids at the University of Liverpool. Ruby is also a visiting student at the Molecular Sciences Research Hub at Imperial College London.

 
 
 
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ANNABEL BASFORD

4th YEAR PHD

Annabel completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry (MChem) at the University of Manchester. Throughout her time she completed two research internships; a computational BBRSC DTP research placement, and a ‘Learning Through Research’ summer placement in the synthesis and optimisation. In her third year she completed a computational and synthetic group project with Prof. Mike Turner and Dr. Joe McDouall. Her MChem project was a computational investigation into covalency in f-element silicon bonds under the supervision of Professor Nikolas Kaltsoyannis. She is now on a CDT React PhD programme with Dr Becky Greenaway and Prof Kim Jelfs on automating reaction prediction for supramolecular organic assemblies.

 
 
 

ZARIK YUSAF

4th YEAR PHD

Zarik completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry with Mathematics (MSci) at University College London. His third year project was supervised by Dr Bob Schroeder and consisted of writing a literature review on the topic of self-healing organic functional materials, while his final year project was focussed on exploring the chemistry of 1-fluoroalkynes, under the supervision of Prof Tom Sheppard. Having an interest in organic synthesis and functional materials led him to pursue a PhD studentship with Dr Becky Greenaway and Dr Jamie Lewis on the design and synthesis of organic functional materials, specifically porous organic cages and rotaxanes. Outside of the lab, Zarik enjoys making music, playing video games and powerlifting.

 
 
 

Email: c.john21@imperial.ac.uk

Co-supervisor: Dr James Bull

CALLUM JOHN

3rd YEAR PHD

Callum completed his Chemistry MSci undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol, where he undertook a project involving the synthesis and characterisation of carbon-dot nanomaterials as part of the Galan group. As a member of the React CDT at Imperial College London, his MRes project focused on developing a late-stage C–H chlorination reaction for diversifying complex drugs and natural products. Now a third year PhD student, his research aims to continue this work, employing automation and computational methods to aid and accelerate the discovery of novel late-stage C–H functionalisation reactions. 

 
 
 

OMAR AL-MIQDADI

3rd YEAR PHD

Omar completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry (MChem) at the University of Warwick. While at Warwick, he conducted a summer research project to investigate whether gadolinium-based and ytterbium-based MOFs could be used to catalyse the breakdown of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. His final year project was done under the supervision of Professor Richard Walton and investigated the use of iron 2,5-furandicarboxylate MOFs as catalysts for the oxidation of HMF. His experience with porous solids led him to pursue a PhD with Dr Becky Greenaway and Professor Camille Petit on the automated synthesis and use of porous liquids for carbon dioxide removal. Outside of the lab, Omar enjoys cooking, watching TV and rowing.

 
 
 

CHRIS OLIWA

2nd YEAR PHD

Chris (he/him) completed his undergraduate Chemistry degree (MSci) at Imperial College London. During his time there he was awarded a RSC undergraduate bursary to carry out a summer research project supervised by Professor Chris Braddock, where he investigated the effects of attractive dispersion forces in the transition state of an unprecedented hydride transfer reaction. Chris then worked in the Craig group on his final year project on developing a synthetic route to enantiomerically pure 7-membered nitrogen heterocycles form amino acids. He is currently in his third year of the REACT CDT programme, working on the applications of porous liquids to synthesis and catalysis. In his free time he loves growing weird house plants, cooking, and cycling.

 
 
 

AIDEN MCGUIRK

1st Year PhD

Aiden completed his MChem in Chemistry at the University of Oxford in 2021. During his time at Oxford, Aiden worked within the Willis Group, focusing on using sulfinyl amines to synthesise novel sulfur-containing functional groups. For the last two years, he worked as a Product development scientist at an environmental start-up called Puraffinity. In this role, Aiden was tasked with designing novel absorbents for the removal of PFAS from water. Currently, Aiden is within his first year of the REACT CDT programme, where he is working on designing and synthesising stimuli-responsive porous liquids. When not in the lab, Aiden can be found running, in the gym and playing Xbox.

 
 
 

ALex Ostudin

1st Year PhD

Alex holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Russian State University of Oil and Gas, where he designed templates for nanoparticle catalysts and interned in Russia's petrochemical industry. He obtained a joint MSc in Industrial Chemistry at the National University of Singapore and the Technical University of Munich, focusing on the new architectures for high-throughput microfluidic reactors. Following his studies, Alex spent two years at NUS developing a machine learning-based nanoparticle synthesis platform and a year at an R&D consulting firm. Currently, he's pursuing a CDT React PhD under Prof. Jelfs, Dr. Greenaway, and Prof. Crimmin, focusing on the optimal exploration strategies for data-driven catalyst design.

 
 
 

Sean Gurung

1st Year PhD

Sean completed his BSc at the University of Kent with a project involving the synthesis and characterization of novel Fe(II) spin crossover co-crystals under the supervision of Dr Helena Shepherd. He then completed his MRes in Advanced Molecular Synthesis at Imperial College London under Prof Matt Fuchter and Dr Becky Greenaway, focusing on the use of high-throughput experimentation and machine learning for the discovery of novel azoheteroaromatic photoswitches. He is currently in the first year of his PhD under Dr Becky Greenaway and Prof Kim Jelfs. Aligned with the AIChemy hub, his research focuses on the development of generalisable automated, high-throughput chemistry research workflows using multi-fidelity machine learning and generative AI. Outside the labs, he can be found indulging his love for mixed martial arts, brazillian jiu-jitsu and good wine and cheese pairings.

 
 
 

Aaron Bernardino

1st Year PhD

Aaron completed his BSc in Chemistry at the University of Pavia (Italy) with a literature review on iron oxide nanoparticles for the treatment of brain tumours. He then completed his MSc in Chemistry at the same university and joined the Greenaway Group to do his MSc project as an Erasmus placement and carried out research on the high-throughput synthesis of imide/imine organic cages and macrocycles in collaboration with Prof. Valeria Amendola. He undertook a summer project in Cambridge in the Nitschke Group, working on automating assembly and host-guest binding studies of metal-organic cages. His interest in supramolecular chemistry and automation led him back to Imperial for a PhD under the supervision of Dr Becky Greenaway.

 
 
 

Michelle Madin

1st Year PhD

Michelle completed her Chemistry MSci undergraduate degree at Imperial College London. Her final year project was done under the supervision of Professor Anthony Barrett and investigated a novel methodology for the synthesis of isonitriles and a new route for isonitrile sugars. Now a first year PhD student, she is pursuing a PhD Fellowship with Dr Becky Greenaway on the design and synthesis of porous organic cages.

 
 
 

Haseenah Sadur

4th Year MSci

Haseenah is in the fourth year of her MSci, starting her master's research project with Becky Greenaway. She will be working on the development and analysis of eutectic porous liquids and glasses.

 
 
 

Honor Edwards

4TH Year MSci

Honor is an MSci student at Imperial College London and has joined the group for her research project on hybrid porous liquids. Outside of the lab, Honor enjoys playing golf, travelling and watching F1.

 

The Extended Family

Becky also works with a small team of researchers as co-supervisor:

 

HAMISH TROWELL

Hamish is currently in his fourth year of the React CDT PhD programme with Prof. Matthew Fuchter and Dr Becky Greenaway. He is working on the properties and applications of photoswitches, and is undertaking a high-throughput study into photoswitchable metal complexes.

Supervisor: Prof. Matt Fuchter

 
 
 

GINA RAI

Gina is currently in her third year of the CDT React PhD programme with Prof. Mark Crimmin, Dr Becky Greenaway and Dr Phil Miller. The project part-funded by GSK and is focused on automating the understanding of catalytic aldehyde synthesis by formylation with homogeneous palladium catalysis.

Supervisor: Prof. Mark Crimmin

Co-supervisor: Dr Phil Miller

 
 
 

MATTHEW GRANNAN

Matthew is currently in his third year of the CDT React PhD programme with Dr James Bull, Dr Becky Greenaway and Prof. Alan Spivey. The project is part-funded by AstraZeneca.

Supervisor: Dr James Bull

Co-supervisor: Prof. Alan Spivey