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Then why not join us?
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PostDoc
Robert Nixon
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Robert graduated from the University of Manchester in 2016 (MChem). Robert joined us for a PhD in September 2016 to work on the development of mechanocatalysts. After successfully defending his thesis in June 2020, Dr Nixon decided to stay with us for a postdoc.
Publications Nat. Chem. 2020, 12, 826-831. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 3033-3036. Nature 2024, 628, 320-325. Nat. Chem. 2024, 16, 1366–1372. Awards Talk Prize at CheM62 meeting 2018 in Liverpool Department of Chemistry Outstanding Achievement Award 2020 Faculty of Science and Engineering Best Outstanding Output 2024 Supramolecular Chemistry Poster Prize at MASC 2024 |
Mengjiao Wu
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Mengjiao graduated from the Jiangxi Normal University (BSc) and Tianjin University (MSc). She obtained her PhD in 2021 under the direction of Prof. Yulan Chen at Tianjin University, where she developed new mechanochromic polymers. She joined us in March 2023 as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow (UKRI guarantee).
Publication Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202501499. |
Lei Chen
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Lei graduated from the East China University of Science and Technology in 2010 (B.S.) and Fudan University in 2013 (M.S.). After working in industry for a few years, Lei joined us in September 2019, on a UoM-CSC scholarship, to work on the mechanochemistry of mechanical bonds. After completing his PhD, Lei decided to stay with us for a postdoc.
Publications Nature 2024, 628, 320-325. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 16381–16384. Chem. Sci. 2025, 16, 7104-7105. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202511039. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202512698. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202516485. Award RSC Manchester and District Section Travel Bursary 2024 Polymer Chemistry & RSC Applied Polymers poster prize, RAPS 2024 Department of Chemistry Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 Highly Commended for the MASC PhD Thesis Award 2024 |
James Ormson
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James graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2021 (MSci) and joined us in September of the same year. James works on the mechanochemistry of catenanes. After completing his PhD, James decided to stay with us for a postdoc.
Publications Chapter 1 in Mechanically Interlocked Materials; Wiley 2024, 1–28. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e21995. Award Best Organic Talk, UoM Chemistry Postgraduate Conference 2024 |
PhD students
Alice Weng Ieong
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Alice graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2019 (BSc) and from the University of Manchester in 2021 (MPhil). She then enrolled in the third cohort of iCAT CDT and initially joined the group for her lab rotation and decided to stay with us for her PhD (April 2022). Alice works on the development of mechanocatalysts.
Publications J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 20782-29785. ACS Catalysis 2026. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5c08857. |
Qianqian Cheng
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Qianqian graduated from the University of Manchester in 2022 (MChem) and after a successful final year project in the group, she decided to stay with us for a PhD. Qianqian works on new retrocycloaddition mechanophores.
Publication Chem. Sci. 2024, 15, 13181–13184 Award Best Organic Talk, UoM Chemistry Postgraduate Conference 2025 |
Oswald Philipsen
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Oswald graduated from the University of Amsterdam in 2021 (MChem). He then worked in the pharmaceutical industry before joining us in September 2024 on a Dean’s Doctoral Scholarship. Oswald works on force-controlled release systems.
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Ronak Singha
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Ronak graduated from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Bhopal in 2024 (BSc and MSc). He joined us in September 2024 to work on force-controlled release systems.
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Rusalim Petris
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Rusalim graduated from Newcastle University in 2022 (MChem). He then worked as a process chemist before joining us in September 2025 . Rusalim works on the elucidation of mechanochemical reaction mechanisms in co-supervision with Dr Igor Roncevic.
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Owen Veck
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Owen graduated from the University of Manchester in 2025 (MChem). After a summer internship in the group in the summer of 2024, he decided to come back and join us for his PhD in September 2025. He works on using mechanical bond in mechanochemisty.
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MChem Students
Will Kynman
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Will joined the group in October 2025 for his MChem project.
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Freya Saunby |
Freya joined the group in October 2025 for her MChem project.
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