News
November 2024
We are actively seeking graduates from China to join the group for PhD research via the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) scheme. The University of Leicester has a total of 25 fully PhD scholarships available for a start date of September 2025. The CSC PhD studentship project in the Kilpatrick Group is entitled "Homogeneous titanocene catalysts for improved electrochemical kinetics of Li–S batteries”.
Please contact Sandy if you are interested to apply! We are happy to discuss with prospective students via email, WeChat or Zoom, and give support and guidance on completing the application form before the deadline 11 December 2024.
October 2024
Sandy is taking a brief interlude from parental leave to share Jamie Allen’s article on Fe2, Co2, Zn2 helicate complexes with dinucleating bis(SacNac) ligands - just accepted in Dalton Transactions! https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT02395A .
We report a dinucleating [S,N] ligand with a flexible linker, that forms homobimetallic complexes with 3d metals Fe, Co and Zn. These show a neat double-stranded helicate structure, stabilised by intramolecular π-π interactions, with homochirality at the two tetrahedral centres.
An analogous series of homoleptics is reported for a bulky β-thioketoiminate (DippSacNac)- surprisingly the first complexes of Fe, Co and Zn we could find in the CCDC with this ligand. We study their Echem and soln magnetism, and investigate structure and bonding with DFT calcs.
Special landmark for the Kilpatrick Group, as it's Jamie's first 1st author paper, our first to come exclusively from "made in Leicester“ research, and first collaboration with Jörg Saßmannshausen (Imperial College London) after meeting at ICOMC 2012 in Lisbon… so cause for celebration!
September 2024
Sandy would like to give huge thanks to the MICRA 2024 organisation committee (Fabs Ortu, Patricia Rodriguez Macia, Philip Ash, Qun Cao) and the Kilpatrick Group (particularly Lydia Barnes) for making the conference a roaring success! If you are interested in hosting MICRA 2026 get in touch.
Warm welcome to Morgan Bates who is joining the Kilpatrick group in September as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate funded by InnovateUK. Morgan will be working on novel debondable adhesives, in conjunction with local company Structural Adhesives Ltd. Find out more about Morgan on our ‘Team’ page.
August 2024
Sandy is leading the organisation committee for MICRA 2024 (Meeting of Inorganic Chemists Recently Appointed) which takes place in Leicester next month, 9-11th September 2024. MICRA brings together researchers working across the field of inorganic chemistry in UK and beyond. Attendees are expected to be at an early stage in their career. This includes early career academics, independent research fellows and experienced postdoctoral researchers. More info and registration details can be found on the MICRA webpage.
July 2024
Congratulations to Rumeza Mohamediddris and Harvey Thompson - this year’s wonderful MChem students in the group - who graduated this month. Special shout-out to Harvey who won the Celltech Prize for best overall performance in his degree programme.
May 2024
Following excellent work on their 4th year MChem projects, Rumeza Mohamediddris and Harvey Thompson have left the lab, presented their talks and submitted their dissertations. We wish them all the best with final exams and future endeavours!
March 2024
Postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) vacancy in the group for a Summer-Autumn 2024 start. Apply here! Advert closes midnight on 27th March 2024. https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DGF314/research-associate
February 2024
The group has been awarded an EPSRC Early Career Researcher International Collaboration grant for an exciting new project “Multimetallic CO2 Reduction Catalysts as Artificial Cofactors” on the interface of inorganic chemistry and enzyme catalysis in collaboration with Dr Patricia Rodriguez Macia (Leicester LISCB) and Johannes Rebelein (MPI Marburg), and Tobias Krämer (Maynooth). Watch this space for a postdoc opportunity!
December 2023
We have three PhD opportunities in the group for a September 2024 start!
#1 Harnessing Deep Eutectic Solvents for Molecular Electrocatalysis (Sandy as PI, DESCYCLE as co-I and industrial CASE funding) Ref: CENTA 2024-L2-CENTA2-CHEM2-KILP.
#2 Designing Biohybrid Catalysts for Carbon Capture and Catalytic Hydrogenation (Dr Patricia Rodriguez Macia as PI, Sandy as Co-I) Ref: CENTA2-CHEM3-RODR.
#3 Several projects for applicants from China funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council and University of Leicester joint PhD scholarships.
Please contact Sandy ASAP if you are interested in applying, or would like to know more.
November 2023
Sandy has been awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA) by Advance HE for his commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in UK higher education.
October 2023
Sandy is giving bite-size research talks to University of Leicester alumni and friends at AutumnFest at the University Botanic Gardens, and the Festival of Change (via Zoom), on the topic "How Chemists Seek To Turn Captured CO2 Into Useful Products". Recordings will be available on YouTube in due course.
2 new members (re)join the group. Harvey Thompson and Rumeza Rumeza are joining for their 4th year MChem projects. Welcome Rumeza! Welcome back Harvey!
September 2023
Nicholas Ralphs, Minodora Atasiei and Harvey Thompson are leaving the group after successful summer research projects. All the best with your MChem projects and future research endeavours. Thanks to Royal Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Research Bursary for funding.
August 2023
We are hosting 4 high school students in the lab as part of the 2023 In2science summer programme. In2ScienceUK empowers young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential through life changing opportunities that give them insights into STEM careers and research and boosts their skills and confidence. In our lab, the students research experience will involve synthesis of titanocene complexes via 2 competing synthetic methodologies… but which one will win? Follow the story as it unfolds on X/Twitter here.
June 2023
2nd year PhD student Sarah Lamorte has won a best poster prize at the University of Leicester Chemistry Postgraduate Research Symposium 2023. Thanks to sponsors RSC Chem Comm., Chem. Sci., and congratulations to Sarah!
May 2023
3rd year MChem students Nicholas Ralphs, Minodora Atasiei and Harvey Thompson will be undertaking summer research internships in the lab working on ligand development and novel zinc, titanium, and iron complexes. Nick is sponsored by a Royal Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Research Bursary. Welcome to the group!
April 2023
Sarah Lamorte and Hannah Watson will be presenting at this year’s Dalton 2023 conference at the University of Warwick, UK. Look out for poster 81.
March 2023
Following excellent work on their 4th year MChem projects, Grace Linford-Wood and Olympia Mouriki have left the lab, presented their talks and submitted their dissertations. We wish them all the best with final exams and future endeavours!
January 2023
We have a 4-year PhD opportunity in the group for applicants from Dalian University of Technology funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council. Applicants must apply via the University of Leicester website here.
November 2022
Dr Qun Cao (University of Leicester) our newest Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry has an exciting project entitled "Sustainable synthesis of N-heterocycles using single atom catalysts (SACs) via oxidation reactions" a fully-funded 3.5 year Future 50 PhD studentship co-supervised by Sandy. Application deadline Friday, January 20, 2023.
October 2022
3 new members (re)join the group. Hannah Watson is joining for a PhD funded by the University of Leicester’s flagship Future 100 Scholarship Scheme. Grace Linford-Wood and Olympia Mouriki are joining for their 4th year MChem projects. Welcome Hannah and Olympia! Welcome back Grace!
September 2022
New paper published in ZAAC resulting from a collaboration initiated back in Sussex days with Prof. Martyn P. Coles (Victoria University of Wellington).
July 2022
3rd year MChem student Grace Linford-Wood will be joining the group for 8 weeks for a summer research internship sponsored by a Royal Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Research Bursary, working on ligand development and novel magnesium complexes. Welcome Grace!
June 2022
Kian Devani, who has recently completed a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Leicester, joins the group for an Industrial MPhil in collaboration with Prof. Andrew Abbott, co-sponsored by Structural Adhesives Ltd.
Punit Jivan, a 2nd year engineering student from Imperial College London, will be joining us for 8 weeks for a summer research internship with Prof. Andrew Abbott sponsored by a Faraday Institute FUSE internship.
Kian and Punit will be working on debondable adhesives in the Centre for Materials Research. Welcome both!
May 2022
Sandy will be talking (and drinking) at Pint of Science festival on Tuesday 10th May - at BrewDog Leicester. #Pint22 is a worldwide science festival which brings researchers to your local pub/cafe/space to share their scientific discoveries with the general public - no prior knowledge required. The theme of the event is ‘Sustainability’ and Sandy’s talk is entitled "How Chemists Seek To Turn Captured CO2 Into Useful Products". Advanced tickets (£5) are selling fast but there are a few still available here.
April 2022
Congratulations Jayna Patel on submission of her MChem dissertation. We wish Jayna all the best for the viva and her future endeavors at University College London.
Feb 2022
PhD position available – deadline 28th February 2022 We have a fully-funded PhD position (3.5 years, full-time) available to start in September 2022 to work on surface-immobilised nickel complexes in collaboration with Dr Philip Ash. This is part of the University of Leicester Future 100 PhD Scholarships. More details here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/surface-immobilised-nickel-complexes-as-catalysts-for-the-electroconversion-of-co2-into-high-value-organic-chemicals/?p141717
Jan 2022
The group has been awarded a Research Grant from The Royal Society to study molecular electrocatalysts. Looking forward to buying some new equipment!
Jan 2021
Kay Özkan has finished his Erasmus internship in the Kilpatrick Group and will go on to another Erasmus placement at Universidad de Oviedo – ¡Todo lo mejor, Kay!
Dec 2021
Epic new book chapter on "Cyclopentadienyl and Phospholyl Complexes of the Group 4 Metals" published as part of Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry 4 in collaboration with Dr Mark Chadwick (Imperial College London).
Jul 2021
New critical review on "Debondable adhesives and their use in recycling" published in Green Chem. in collaboration with Prof. Andy Abbott (University of Leicester).
Nov 2021
MPhil position available – deadline 20th January 2022
We have a fully-funded MPhil position (1 year, full-time) available in collaboration with Prof. Andy Abbott to start in Spring/Summer 2022 to work on debondable adhesives. More details here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/mphil-debondable-structural-adhesives/?p134731
Nov 2021
New paper published in Polyhedron from PhD work with Prof. Geoff Cloke at the University of Sussex. Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Malcolm L. H. Green.
Oct 2021
Kay Özkan from the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin has joined the group for an Erasmus placement. Herzlich willkommen Kay!
Oct 2021
Jayna Patel has joined the group for her final year MChem project. Welcome Jayna!
Sept 2021
Jamie Allen and Sarah Lamorte have joined the group as PhD students. Welcome both!
Jun 2021
Kira has completed her FUSE Internship as part of the Faraday Institution's ReLiB project, in collaboration with Prof. Andy Abbott. Kira's critical review on debondable adhesives has now been submitted, and that her corresponding summary poster won the FUSE poster prize for ‘Best Visual Appeal’. Massive congrats Kira and all the best for your future endeavours!
Jul 2021
New paper published in Catal. Sci. Tech. from PDRA work with Prof. Dermot O'Hare in collaboration with Prof. Andrew Goodwin (University of Oxford).
Jun 2021
Kira Mulcahy (University of Edinburgh) is working with the group for a FUSE 2021 Internship with the Faraday Institution and Prof. Andy Abbott, as part of the ReLiB (recycling lithium-ion batteries) project. Welcome Kira!
Jun 2021
Lucy Woods has finished her MChem project in the Kilpatrick Group and will go on to a PhD studentship with Prof. Gareth Williams at the University of Durham – best of luck Lucy!
Mar 2020
New paper published in Inorg. Chem. from Humboldt Fellowship work with Prof. Dr. Christian Limberg at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Mar 2020
New paper published in Dalton Trans. from PDRA work with Prof. Dermot O'Hare at the University of Oxford.
Jan 2021
The group has been awarded a Royal Society of Chemistry Research Fund to study transition metal complexes with [S,N]-hybrid ligands.
December 2020
New paper published in Chem. Commun. from Humboldt Fellowship work with Prof. Dr. Christian Limberg at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
October 2020
Lucy Woods has joined as inaugural member of the Kilpatrick Group for her final year MChem project. Welcome Lucy!
September 2020
New paper published in Mater. Chem. Front. from PDRA work with Prof. Dermot O'Hare at the University of Oxford.