GROUP MEMBERS
Group in June 2026. Left to right (top): Mason, Makarios, Connor, Bohan, Iarina, Ben, Ed, Ben, Serine
(bottom): Vivian, Adam, Evdokiya, Dylan, Alex. Absent: Chaohui, Xiaoxuan, Phong.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr Alex Wilmshurst
Alex grew up in Kent and completed his undergraduate and PhD studies at the University of Southampton. His doctoral research, supervised by Dr George Williams, focused on the applications of mechanical bonds, with a particular emphasis on photoswitches. Following his PhD, he remained in Southampton and worked as a PDRA with Dr Gregory Perry on a UKRI IAA-funded project investigating the scale-up and commercialisation of novel carboxylation agents in collaboration with Key Organics. He finally ventured beyond Southampton to join the Pilgrim Group in May 2026. Outside the lab, Alex plays water polo and is an avid Arsenal supporter.
Dr Vivian Shang
Vivian grew up in Sydney, Australia and graduated from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours I) in Chemistry. She completed her PhD on metallosupramolecular cage reconfigurations with a focus on single crystal X-ray diffraction under the supervision of Prof. Jack Clegg at The University of Queensland. During her PhD, she also worked on a Pd cage research project with Prof. James Crowley at The University of Otago, New Zealand. She then pivoted her research focus to chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at The University of Melbourne with Dr Carol Hua as a postdoctoral research fellow. Subsequently, Vivian joined the Pilgrim Group in June 2026 to work on Pd cage architectures. She enjoys travelling, hiking, basketball, cooking, baking, and scuba diving.
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.
Adam Holt - Finishing Up
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 - Finishing Up
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 - Fourth 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 - Third 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 - Third 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.
Iarina-Andreea Sava - Second Year
Iarina comes from Romania. She completed her bachelor's in Pharmacology at the University of Nottingham with a First. Her project focused on GABA and opioid signalling in the respiratory system. She also completed a two-month studentship at the University of Cambridge in Prof. Charlotte Summers' group at the VPD Heart & Lung Research Institute, investigating neutrophil transmigration in respiratory diseases. She was then accepted onto a BBSRC-funded doctoral programme on a collaborative project between the Pilgrim group and Dr Madeleine King’s group (School of Life Sciences). In her spare time, she enjoys reading and art.
MRes Students
Ben Simpson-Hallas - Finishing Up
Ben grew up in Nottingham and completed his Bsc at Nottingham Trent University and his project was on the synthesis of spirobrate anions for the use in low temperature superconductors. After completing his Masters, he wants to go on to complete a PhD. Outside of his studies he enjoys watching Nottingham Forest play football and playing games. He also likes learning about space and history.
Mason Ormsby - Finishing Up
Mason completed his undergraduate studies with First Class Honours in Chemistry from Nottingham Trent University in 2024. Taking a year out to work as an account executive, he decided to pursue a masters, working within the Pilgrim group and Cliffe group. In his spare time, he enjoys playing games and going to the gym.
Evdokiya Ivanovska
Evdokiya completed her bachelor's in Forensic Chemistry at the University of Bradford with a First. Her undergraduate project focused on the visual and chemical changes in soft tissue after exposure to corrosive substances. She was on placement in the Coordination Chemistry for Energy, Sustainability, and Health (CCESH) group, under the supervision of Dr Sanjit Nayak and Dr Maria Katsikogianni, where she worked on metal-organic frameworks and their applications in agriculture and medicine. She has also worked as a Forensic chemistry technician at the University of Bradford. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, and travelling to historic places. Her favourite game is Dixit.
MSci Students
Dylan Kirk
Dylan is in the 4th year of his 4-year MSci Chemistry course. In summer 2025 he won the Class of 1960 Bursary to complete an internship under Dr Richard Wheatley in Gaussian processes to predict potential energy surfaces in N2. In summer 2026 he undertook an EPSRC funded summer studentship in the Pilgrim group. Dylan is an ex-GB judo player and in his spare time he enjoys going to the gym and travelling with his partner.
Owen Parkes
Owen lives in Derby and is starting his research project with the Pilgrim group for his 4th year of the Chemistry MSci course. In his free time he enjoys computer games, music, and going to concerts and festivals.
Hannah Best
Hannah has just started her 4th year of an MSci at the University of Nottingham. She is doing a final year project looking at computational methods in supramolecular chemistry joint with Prof. Jon McMaster. Previous projects include electric birefringence, polymer chemistry, and an informal project for the Met Office looking at data analysis of pollutants in the atmosphere. In her spare time she enjoys playing netball, reading, and baking.
Visiting/Summer Students
Please get in touch if you would like to come as a visiting or summer student.
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 everything.