All our news stories are available here. New method could cut waste from drug production Scientists have developed a sustainable new way of making complex molecules, which could greatly reduce waste produced during drug manufacturing, a study suggests. Poster Prize Successes in Crystallography Double win for the Hobday Group at the British Crystallographic Spring Meeting! Tool detects early signs of motor neuron disease A technique identifying the signs of motor neuron disease (MND) in humans earlier than current tests has been discovered, research reveals. Alumna Wins Prestigious Salters’ Institute Award Congratulations to alumna Marta Chronowska, who has been announced as a 2023 winner of the prestigious Salters’ Institute Graduate award for Chemistry. NMR Spectroscopy Used to Develop Chemical Fingerprint of Gin New technique provides near-instant chemical fingerprint Daphne Jackson Fellowships Diversity in Science: University of Edinburgh supporting researchers on career breaks through Daphne Jackson Fellowships, changing the face of research Researchers secure £7.4M UKAEA contract to develop lithium technologies for fusion Congratulations to School of Chemistry researchers Professor Andy Mount, Dr Justin Elliott, Dr Ilka Schmueser and team, who have been awarded a contract to develop their innovative lithium technologies for fusion energy. New NMR Equipment Adds X Nuclei and 19F Capabilities Christmas has come early for the School of Chemistry NMR Facility with the delivery of two new pieces of advanced equipment. Local Primary 6’s FOCUS on Chemistry The School of Chemistry partnered with Into University to support a local primary 6 class to explore the world of chemistry as part of the FOCUS Programme Genomic Youth Camp: Exploring Multilingual Universe of Science Our colleague Dr Antonia Mey collaborated with the Goethe-Institut Pakistan and the PASCH Initiative to work on the AI and Genomics Youth Camp as one of two instructors Unravelling the Secrets of Neurodegenerative Diseases, One Protein at a Time Proteins misfolding and clumping together, a process known as aggregation, is a key feature seen in several neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. RSC Awards Grant to Tackle Racism Within Chemistry New grant awarded to examine the effects of inequality on career progression 2023 Chancellor’s Award Winner School researcher named winner of leading award Success for Edinburgh NMR PhD Students at International Conferences. Multiple winners at major conference Chemists Inspire at Baird Celebration Day In the sunshine of Ettrick Bay, on the Isle of Bute, researchers from the School of Chemistry delivered engaging hands-on activities to inspire the locals to take an interest in science Doors Open Day at King’s Building Campus Doors all over King’s Building Campus were opened to the public on Saturday 23rd September as part of the national Doors Open Day celebrations Research on Caloric Materials Funded by the European Commission The European Commission (HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN) has funded (€2.6m) a research project aimed at discovering and exploiting new caloric materials for refrigeration technologies Nature Communications Paper SHARPER-DOSY: Publication of a new NMR methodology for enhanced sensitivity Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Visit On 4–7 July 2023, the School of Chemistry was delighted to host a visit by four colleagues from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (TSNUK). Sunamp Collaboration Featured in Economic Impact Report University of Edinburgh economic impact report highlights successful research partnership Charles Rupert McIntyre Prize 2023 Congratulations to third year PhD student Lucinda Wilson, who has been named the first winner of the Charles Rupert McIntyre Prize School of Chemistry Researchers Recognized in RSC 2023 Awards The Microporous Membranes Team, Materials Chemistry Horizon Prize: Stephanie L Kwolek Prize Dr Uwe Schneider Awarded EUSA Personal Tutor of the Year 2023 Chemistry tutor recognised at EUSA awards EPSRC Grant Brings Together World Leading Boron Chemistry Research Team Guy Lloyd-Jones and Allan Watson will head up a world class team working on £6million EPSRC grant to provide major advances in the application of borylated compounds Showcasing Digital Frontiers Over 200 academics and industry partners came together at the National Museum of Scotland yesterday for Edinburgh Innovations’ annual showcase and dinner, this year on the theme of Digital Frontiers: data and digital technologies. BSc Project on Scotch Whisky Published by Chemical Physics Student A research article on the behaviour of flavour molecules in Scotch whisky has recently been published in the Journal of Molecular Liquids Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD Prize 2023 Congratulations to Dr Weronika Gruszka, who has been recognised for her research accomplishments and contributions to the School community. Dementia Study Shows How Toxic Proteins Spread Fresh insights into the spread of damaging proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease could hold the key to stopping the condition progressing, a study says. Ukraine Students in Edinburgh The School of Chemistry recently welcomed students from Ukraine as part of our twinning initiative Alumnus returns to share insights and inspire Students hear from Medicinal and Biological Chemistry graduate Prince Chakanyuka The Robert Ramage Symposium: celebrating a great scientific legacy On Saturday 11th March 2023, the School of Chemistry hosted a special symposium in memory of Professor Robert (Bob) Ramage. School Researcher Wins Bronze Award in Prestigious STEM for Britain Final 2023 Postdoctoral Researcher Chunchun Ye selected finalist and presented her research to Parliament, winning bronze award in Chemistry section. Dr. K.P. Lawley We are sorry to have to convey the sad news that Kenneth Lawley died peacefully, after a very short illness, in Edinburgh on 6th February 2023. OpenBioSim: New Spinout Company Formed Company will develop open-source software for the pharmaceutical industry Horrocks Lab Researcher Awarded MND Association Fellowship Congratulations to Dr Rebecca Saleeb, who has been awarded the Lady Edith Wolfson Non-Clinical Research Fellowship by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association. Professor Andrew Lawrence named Finalist in prestigious UK Blavatnik Awards School of Chemistry researcher becomes the second academic from School of Chemistry to be named finalist in two years. Alumna gives Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD Prize Talk Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD Prize winner Dr Ellie Tanaka presents her photovoltaic research and public engagement work Recent Graduate Awarded Rhodes Scholarship Congratulations to Geofrey Njovu, who has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. New Nucleus Building Opens The Nucleus Building will be a new shared learning, teaching and social hub at the heart of The King’s Buildings campus. It is scheduled to be fully operational by January 2023. School of Chemistry at Caithness Science Festival 2022 Four public engagement scholars from the School of Chemistry travelled to the most Northern parts of the Scottish mainland to take part in Caithness Science Festival. Gut Could Sound Early Warning Alarm for Motor Neuron Disease The same proteins thought to contribute to motor neuron disease can be found in the gut many years before any brain symptoms occur, a new study by the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh has found. Alumnus wins Rising Star at Black British Business Awards Congratulations to School of Chemistry graduate Prince Chakanyuka, who has been named Consumer and Luxury Rising Star Winner at the 2022 Black British Business Awards. Professor Alison Hulme quoted on BBC Professor Alison Hulme comments on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry win for 'click' chemistry- which allows molecules to link together, like Lego pieces. The technique can be used to develop cancer treatments. School in 2nd Place in Guardian University Rankings Ranked top for careers after graduation Postdoctoral Researcher Awarded Royal Society Research Fellowship Early career research award gives opportunity to build a group and develop research Protein Going Wrong Leads to Nerve Cell Death in Parkinson’s Disease Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, UCL and the University of Edinburgh have uncovered how a build-up of harmful protein starts to happen within neurons, ultimately causing cell death in Parkinson’s disease. Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks? A new catalytic strategy for aldol-type reactions Chemical ‘Egg-boxes’ Could Crack Rare-earth Element Separations Access to metals critical to green technologies could be significantly improved thanks to new chemical method, a study shows. Horrocks Group Member Awarded Sir William Darling Memorial Prize Student recognised for research excellence and sporting sucess Alumnus Wins Prestigious Salters’ Institute Award Thomas Winbolt has won the prestigious Salters’ Institute Graduate award for Chemistry. Study Seeks to Address Concerns of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Lab Scientists A new study from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry needs you help getting a snapshot of current provisions for pregnant and breastfeeding staff and students in physical sciences academic laboratories. Graduate Start-up Chosen as Falling Walls Finalist Alumna’s innovative water filtration method recognised by global platform for science start-ups Recent Graduate Published in Science Graduate's work during year abroad contributed to the final paper Chemistry Graduates Reconnect at Summer Alumni Gathering Earlier this month, School of Chemistry alumni from across six decades came together to network, reminisce and find out about recent changes at the Joseph Black Building Chemistry Alumna's Commonwealth Games Memories Interview with star athlete reveals her fondest memories of competing and studying New Funding Announced for UK Laser Facility Next step on journey to build new UK research infrastructure approved School of Chemistry PhD Researcher in Final of Three Minute Thesis Competition 2022 Third year PhD student Alexander Triccas reaches final of prestigious 3MT competition Poster Prize Success PhD student from Hobday Group wins poster prize at first attempt New Lease of Life for Scottish Wool New treatment for coarse wool could change the fabric of Scottish textiles industry Paper Published in Science Research into bone structure published in leading journal Prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship Awarded to Raju Chambenahalli Highly competitive Fellowship awarded to School postdoctoral researcher Exploring the Potential of Metatorbernite in Uranium Remediation School of Chemistry researchers feature in podcast on uranium remediation N-Phenylputrescine (NPP): A Natural Product Inspired Amine Donor for Biocatalysis Journal article featured on front cover PhD Led Outreach Project Secures RSC Funding Workshop in a Box receives >£9k to continue impactful work Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Electronics Discover innovative ways researchers are tackling the major sustainability challenges of ever-growing demand for electronics Fraser & Norma Stoddart Prize 2022 Photovoltaic research and public engagement work recognised in annual student prize Study Finds Goldilocks Organoborane Catalysts for Fluorination School of Chemistry publication in Chemical Science journal highlighted in RSC Chemistry World PhD Alumna Shortlisted for the 2022 Being Edinburgh Award Chemistry graduate among alumni finalists recognised for their passion, drive and brilliance. New Award for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Products New funding will help research into development of new medicines Chinese Academy of Sciences President's International Fellowship Award to further research cooperation goes to School researcher Dr Stephen Thomas Named Finalist in Prestigious UK Blavatnik Awards School of Chemistry researcher adds to his impressive accolades with Blavatnik finalist award PhD Student at Asilomar Conference on Mass Spectrometry Kiani Jeacock presented a poster and 2-minute “lightning talk” covering her PhD research PhD Student wins 2 RSC Prizes Conference presentations a success for Hulme group researcher Research Perspective and Grant Funding Success for Cockroft Group From Nanopore Modification to Molecular Machines Discover the Work of Our Resident Glassblower School of Chemistry Glassblower Highlighted in University “12 Days of Hidden Edinburgh” MChem student virtual placement and first author success 4th year MChem student Kira Mulcahy secured a virtual placement with the Faraday Institute over the summer and is named as first author in RSC Green Chemistry article. School of Chemistry alumna wins British Council Science and Sustainability Award Congratulations to alumna Dr Baihuiqian (Vera) He on winning the Science and Sustainability Award as part of the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in China. We've Joined the Sunflower School of Chemistry is now a partner with the Sunflower Scheme RSC Nyholm Prize Former Director of Teaching wins RSC prize Lawrence and Campopiano Group Collaboration Bears Fruit Research published in RSC journal Sunamp’s Innovation Features Parliament’s Scientific Journal Heat storage technology draws interest from UK parliament Garden Group Paper Published in Catalysis Sci and Tech Work by postgraduate and undergraduate students featured in paper Poster Winners Announced MChem Students recognised in Faraday Institution FUSE2021 poster awards Jarvis Group Article Published in Royal Society Open Science Research conducted with PhD student who recently passed his viva Going for gold: a new method for recycling metals A team of researchers have developed a recyclable chemical reagent that separates valuable metals such as gold £9M Multi-university SynHiSel project could save CO2 emissions and energy costs worldwide. A £9M project to develop new chemical processing technology that could massively reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has begun at UK Universities including the University of Edinburgh. Researchers Turn Electronics Trash into Treasure with the Help of a Dram New filtration system using whisky delivers success COP26 Universities Network Innovation Showcase Website Launches We're proud that our researchers and collaborators are informing action and aiding adaptation to our changing climate. New Twist on a Classic Reaction Development of the Phospha-Bora-Wittig reaction Edinburgh Researchers Involved in $8.4 Million Research Large international grant awarded for ALS Frontotemporal spectrum disorder research American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Later Career Scholars Award 2022 Edinburgh professor awarded for his fundamental contributions to mechanistic analysis of organic reactions, and the resulting practical insights to important synthetic processes Making the Invisible Visible Explorathon 21 presentation for postgraduate student. Dr Jenni Garden Presenting at RSC Plastics and Climate Change Panel & RSC Podcast At the beginning of November, the UK will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Virtual Chemistry Reunion Spans Six Decades Graduates of special anniversary years gather online for our special ‘Connecting Chemistry’ event Bending Sea Shells New research reveals secrets of flexible shells PhD Student Paper Explores Challenges of Scientific Writing Paper provides perspectives from early-career researchers on the scientific writing process Summer Student Conference 2021 School conference recognises achievements of research students UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship School of Chemistry researcher awarded prestigious fellowship School of Chemistry Researcher Gives Perspective on Progressive Plastics Dr Jenni Garden describes how Chemical scientists are working to solve the plastics problem in an interview with the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemistry Lecture at Inaugural Deaf & Hard of Hearing Summer School Summer School part of our activities to support the BSL Plan 2018-2024 This article was published on 2024-03-11