People

Dr. Nic Pearce

Nic completed an Msci in Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry at the University of Nottingham before joining the Champness research group for his PhD. His thesis research examined the electrochemical properties of thionated rylene diimides. Nic continued on in the group as a postdoc, where his research is now focussed on the supramolecular chemistry of pillararene-rotaxane systems. Outside of the lab, Nic also likes to teach chemistry and was awarded Fellow status of AdvanceHE in 2023.

Dr. Sarah Griffin

Sarah completed her BSc(Hons) in Chemistry at the University of Glasgow in 2015, undertaking her final year project under the supervision of Prof. Ross Forgan, working on the introduction of alkyne-functionalised ligands into Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Following this, Sarah continued in the group carrying out her PhD as part of the Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation DTC, studying the kinetics and processes of crystallisation of Zr and Y MOFs. Sarah joined the Champness group in 2019 as a postdoctoral researcher working on complex-containing MOFs for single crystal X-ray study of reactions within the framework. 

Alex Lewis

Alex is originally from Brighton. He completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Nottingham in 2018 where in his masters year his research was the synthesis and characterisation of molecular handcuffs. His current work consists of creating 2D molecular arrays using thiolated pillararenes on gold surfaces.

Asia Almuhana

Asia joined the Champness research group in 2017 studying for her Master’s degree in organic chemistry. Her project focussed on synthesising soluble perylene diimides (PDIs) and attaching them to the surface of nanodiamonds to give nanocomposites with interesting optical properties. Currently she is continuing her research in the Champness group working towards her PhD producing supramolecular systems of perylene diimide molecules.

Olukayode Babarinde

Olukayode was trained as a Science Laboratory Technologist at The Polytechnic, Ibadan (2000) prior further training as chemist at the University of Ibadan (BSc 2004). In 2009, He took an MSc in Industrial Chemistry at the same university and worked on ‘the biosorption of cadmium and Lead ions from aqueous solution by Musa Paradisiaca Stalk using Flame Atomic Absorption Spetrophotometry as analytical technique’. Babarinde obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education  at  Usman-Danfodio University, Sokoto (PGDE 2013) and has taught Chemistry at Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Nigerian Army School of  Education, Ilorin and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria. He took a further MSc in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science at Loughborough University, United Kingdom (2014). During this programme, Olukayode was appointed Researcher [Secondee], Inorganic Analysis and Speciation Team at LGC, Teddington, UK and has worked on the Application of  Ultrasonic-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Extraction for preconcentration and subsequent determination of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs] by inductively coupled plasma-isotope dilution mass spectrometry in environmental water  samples.  He joined the Champness group for his PhD in February 2018 exploring the synthesis and applications of Metal Organic Frameworks and other supramolecular architectures.

Joseph Ogar

Joseph became a member of the academic staff of the Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar in 2013 after graduating from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He proceeded to do his Master’s Degree in Inorganic Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Ayi A. Ayi at the University of Calabar. In his quest for further academic progress, he joined Professor Neil Champness’ Group at the University of Nottingham in 2017 where he studied for his PhD. His research interests include, but are not limited to; the synthesis of novel naphthalene/perylene diimides, and using them to make highly porous open framework materials and putting guest molecules in the materials.

Mark Newman

Mark was a student at Nottingham from 2013, where he completed an MSci in Chemistry. In his fourth year research project, Mark worked on naphthalene diimide-containing metal organic frameworks. Upon the commencement of his PhD, his focused switched to producing Rotaxane-containing metal-organic framework.

Rosemary Young

Rosemary undertook a joint PhD between the Champness Group at the University of Nottingham and the Sumby-Doonan Group at the University of Adelaide (Australia). She was born and raised in rural South Australia and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Adelaide. She joined the Sumby-Doonan Group for her honours project which focused on investigating the antibacterial properties of silver coordination polymers. This led to her PhD research which involved studying bonding and reactions inside metal-organic frameworks.

Ellie Frampton

Ellie did her MSci in chemistry and her final year project in the Champness group studying the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using naphthalene diimides as ligands and using X-ray crystallography to determine their structure. For her PhD she is supported by the Low-Dimensional Materials and Interfaces Doctoral Training Program (LDMI DTP) and worked on an interdisciplinary project co-supervised by Neil and Alex Saywell from the School of Physics. Her research focussed on understanding self-assembly of porphyrins and she spends a lot of her time doing STM in Alex Saywell’s group. She has an Instagram account aimed at young women interested in a career in the sciences called @morethanascientist to showcase what life as a PhD student is like.

Arjun Patel

Arjun spent his masters year in the Champness group working on pillar[5]arene [2]rotaxanes. After he graduated in 2016, he decided to stay in the Champness group to pursue a PhD in the synthesis of pillar[5]arene based mechanically interlocked molecules.