GROUP MEMBERS
Group in November 2023. Left to right: Soumalya, Connor, Ed, Martin, Dan, Becky, Ben,
Justin, Mark, Sam, Amy, Sam, Adam. Absent Xiaoxuan
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr Soumalya Bhattacharyya
Soumalya comes from West Bengal, India. He did his bachelor's degree at the University of Calcutta followed by an M.Sc. in Chemistry from IIT Madras. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore under Prof. Partha S Mukherjee on 'Photoresponsive supramolecular architectures and their applications.' He loves watching cricket and the Premier League. He also likes to play cricket.
Dr Martin Black​
Martin completed his MSci in chemistry at the University of Nottingham in 2020. In his third year research project he worked in the Nortcliffe group in collaboration with GSK to synthesise novel anti-asthma drugs. Martin did his final year project in the Champness group working on the synthesis of pillar[6]arene based rotaxanes. Martin completed his PhD in the Pilgrim group from 2020-2024 on the Supramolecular and Materials Applications of Tetrazines. Martin is currently working in the NAMI group in the CNL on a joint project with the Pilgrim group. In his spare time he enjoys playing squash and rock climbing.
PhD Students
Sam Wharvell - Finishing Up​
Sam completed both his BSc and MSc and the University of Leicester in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry respectively. In his spare time he plays dodgeball, water polo and enjoys attending and being a part of theatre productions.
Amy Naylor Randles - Fourth Year​
Amy completed her MChem at the University of Liverpool in 2021. During this time she spent a year in industry at Unilever Port Sunlight in the advanced materials and surface science group designing novel sustainable surfactants. In her final year Amy joined the Claridge group working on Quasicrystal growth and XRD. In 2021 Amy joined the CDT in Sustainable Chemistry at UoN and is now working on a collaborative project between the Irvine, Pilgrim and Stockman groups (Faculty of Enginnering & School of Chemistry). In her spare time Amy enjoys gymnastics, reading and travelling to sunny countries.
Adam Holt - Third Year
After graduating with 1st Class Honours (Chemistry) from Bangor University in 2018 Adam spent several years exploring possible careers including teaching and The Royal Navy. Returning to academia in the October of 2021 he completed a Masters by Research (Chemistry) degree at the University of Lincoln under the tutorage of Dr Guzmán Gil-Ramírez. This course included a two week internship at the University of Granada under Drs Victor B. Suárez and Aeaceli G. Camaña From here Adam was accepted onto a funded PhD program (Chemistry) at the University of Nottingham which he commenced in the October of 2022. Adam's project is funded by the EPSRC and is a collaborative project between the Pilgrim group and Prof. Mike George's group (School of Chemistry) and Dr Lyudmila Turyanska's group (School of Engineering). In his free time Adam enjoys outdoor pursuits and has led multi day hiking expeditions across the Isle of Skye and Snowdonia National Park.
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Ed Smale - Third Year
Ed is starting the first year of his PhD in the Pilgrim group after completing his Masters at the University of Loughborough. His research project in Loughborough was based around the synthesis of sulfimide derivatives and their properties. He loves wildlife and has claimed his girlfriend's German Shepherd as his own. In his spare time he weightlifts most days as well as liking paddle boarding and generally being in the sea whenever he can be, and if not he’ll probably be found drinking coffee somewhere.
Connor Bergin - Second Year
Connor joined the Pilgrim group after completing his MChem at Sheffield Hallam University in 2023. His research project for his masters was the synthesis of a potential inhibitor for the PTP1B enzyme to tackle the rising issue of obesity and its related comorbidities. In his spare time, Connor enjoys playing cricket and golf as well as attending football matches.
Xiaoxuan Su - Second Year
Xiaoxuan earned his Master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield in 2021. He then returned to China and worked as a research assistant for two years before deciding to pursue his PhD on a joint project between the Pilgrim group and Dr Matt Cliffe's group. During his spare time, he enjoys reading and playing board games.
Bohan Si - First Year
Bohan completed his MSc in material science at the University College London in 2023. One year later, he joined the Pilgrim group to pursue a doctoral degree. During his spare time, he enjoys reading and outdoor strolls.
MRes Students
Justin Joseph
Justin was born in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and moved to Leeds at the age of 13. He completed his BSc in Chemistry at the University of Bradford, with his dissertation entitled 'The supramolecular self-assembly of lysozyme to form 3D scaffolds'. He enjoys all types of games, and spends most of his time studying and creating strategies to beat whatever game or sport that manages to keep hold of his attention.
MSci Students
Daniel Murchie
Daniel is currently in his final year of his integrated MSci in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. Expecting to graduate in the summer of 2025, his desires are to then pursue further studies and academia. He enjoys all chemistry that is organometallic or mechanistic in nature (referring to chemistry from first principles, not curly arrows!). Aside from his studies, he enjoys Napoleonic history and cheeses.
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Harriet Porter
Harriet is working towards an MSci in Chemistry, hoping to graduate in the summer of 2025. She enjoys areas of chemistry such as supramolecular and biological. Aside from chemistry she loves to be outdoors, taking part in hobbies such as open water swimming, sea kayaking and mountaineering. This year she is also part of committee for the university mountaineering club.
There are currently no visiting students. If you are interested in visiting please contact Ben.
Honorary Group Member
Alfie
Honorary group member Alfie arrived in December 2023. He is known for being incredibly friendly, wanting lots of fusses, rolling in fox poo, and wanting to eat everythi