Former Group Members
PDRAs
- Kenneth Ling:
- Kenny carried out his D. Phil working for Prof. Steve Davies at the University of Oxford, working on nitrogen directed cyclopropanation reactions and their applications in synthesis. His post-doctoral work was funded by the EPSRC and focused on NHC-catalysed asymmetric methodologies and hetero-Claisen reactions in synthesis. Kenny is now working for Syngenta in Jealott's Hill.
- Carmen Concellón:
- Carmen carried out her PhD work in the laboratory of Prof.
Jose Concellón at the University of Oviedo, Spain working on
novel applications of SmI2 in synthesis. During her PhD studies
she spent some time as a project student working in the groups
of Prof. Tim Gallagher (Bristol) and Prof. Steve Davies
(Oxford). Her post-doctoral work was funded by the Spanish
Government. After gaining a Spanish government funded fellowship
she is currently working in Oviedo.
- Nicolas Duguet:
- Nico completed his PhD studies in the laboratory of Dr.
Jacques Maddaluno at the University of Rouen, France working on
the design of new ligands for organolithium species and their
use in enantioselective 1,2 and 1,4-additions. As part of his
PhD studies he spent some time as a project student working in
collaboration Prof. Kiyoshi Tomioka in Kyoto. His post-doctoral
position was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Nico is a junior research associate at the University of Lyon.
PhD students
- Craig Campbell:
- Hailing from Wick, Craig gained a first class M. Chem. degree
from the University of St Andrews, carrying out his industrial
placement with Pfizer (Sandwich) and completing his Masters
project with Dr Nigel Botting. The Carnegie Trust sponsored his
PhD project, which was concerned with developing multi-component
processes employing N-heterocyclic carbene mediated catalysis
and developing chiral NHCs for applications in organocatalysis.
After successfully defending his thesis, he intended to audition for the X Factor, but has put this dream on hold to undertake post-doctoral research with Dr Ed Anderson at the University of Oxford.
- Phil Woods:
- Orginally from Manchester, Phil gained his M. Chem degree from New College, University of Oxford and completed his Part II project under the supervision of Prof. Steve Davies. His PhD work, in collaboration with AstraZeneca, focused upon the development of methods for the synthesis of polysubstituted heterocycles using Lewis-bases and the application of this methodology to natural product synthesis. He has now moved back to Oxford to undertake post-doctoral work in the group of Dr Martin Smith.
- Caroline Joannesse:
- Caro carried out her undergraduate degree at the Catholic
University of Louvain, Belgium and worked with Prof. Olivier
Riant for her research project. She studied for her Masters
degree at the University of Belfast through the Erasmus
programme working with Dr Graham Saunders. Her PhD project was
funded by the EPSRC and concerned the development and
synthetic applications of isothioureas as catalysts. Caro is now carrying out an industrial post-doc with
Galapagos in Belgium.
- Jen Thomson:
- Jen carried out research using NHCs as carboxyl transfer catalysts and is now working as an air-traffic controller
Project students
- Emma Flannery (10-11):
- Emma evaluated isothiourea catalysts in the kinetic resolution of cyclic amides.
- Ewen Calder (10-11):
- Ewen prepared and investigated several Cinchona alkaloid
derivatives as organocatalysts in intra-molceular Michael lactonisation reactions.
- Reuben Holmes (10-11):
- Reuben investigated isothiourea catalysed intermolecular Michael addition-lactonisation reactions towards the synthesis of dihydropyranone derivatives.
- Lois Manton (09-10):
- Lois synthesised and evaluated several novel stereodirecting nitrones in the asymmetric hetero-Claisen reaction to synthesise asymmetric oxindoles. Lois has now unertaken PhD research at the Univeristy of Bath.
- Craig Johnston (08-09):
- Craig prepared a number of chiral isothioureas and evaluated
their reactivity in the asymmetric Steglich rearrangement. He
has moved to Oxford to carry out his PhD under the supervision
of Dr Martin Smith (keeping things in the family!).
- Eddy Kallstrom (08-09):
- Eddy prepared a range of NHCs from amino acids and employed
them in a number of NHC mediated catalytic processes. He has
moved to Oxford to carry out his PhD under the supervision of Dr
Darren Dixon.
- Andrew Kyle (07-08):
- Andrew prepared a range of 3,3'-oxindole derivatives
employing NHC mediated catalysis in his prize-winning research
project and as a summer student in the Smith group. He has moved
to Oxford carry out his PhD under the supervision of Dr Darren
Dixon.
- Alastair Durie (07-08):
- Alastair prepared and evaluated a range of chiral NHCs as
organocatalysts in his research project. He has begun work for
PhD work for Prof. David O'Hagan in St Andrews.
- Carmen Simal (summer 07):
- Carmen studied for her PhD in the group of Prof. Jose
Concellón at the University of Oviedo and worked as a
summer student in the Smith group developing a range of
organocatalysts. She has since returned to St Andrews and is now
working as a PDRA with the Smith Group.
- Phil Lenden (06-07):
- Phil worked on the application of N-heterocyclic carbene
mediated O- to C-carboxyl transfer to heterocyclic
systems for his undergraduate project and as a summer student in
the Smith group. He has moved to the University of Oxford to
carry out his PhD work with Dr. Mike Willis.
- Katie Gallagher (06-07):
- Katie developed a number of novel catalysts and methods
during her prize winning undergraduate project in the Smith
group that was subsequently developed while working on a Royal
Society Summer Studentship. She has moved to the University of
York to carry out her PhD work with Prof. Richard Taylor.
- Kathryn Rix (05-06):
- Kathryn carried out her prize winning undergraduate project
in the Smith group, and subsequently studied for an M. Res in
Environmental Biology at the University of St Andrews before
teacher training in Cambridge. She is currently carrying out a
PhD at Imperial College with Dr Mimi Hii.