Current Group Members
Post-Doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs)
Paul completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Liverpool (MChem, 2012) before undertaking an MRes and PhD at the University of Bath as part of the CSCT (2012-2016). Paul's PhD was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Matthew Davidson and Dr. Matthew Jones. His thesis focused on the preparation of new metal initiators for the production of PLA.
Paul currently holds a post doctoral position in the Jones group, actively collaborating with the Department of Chemical Engineering and the University of Birmingham. This new project investigates the chemical degradation of PLA and the separation and isolation of useful chemicals.
Outside of academia, Paul enjoys playing squash, cooking and playing ukulele.
PhD Students
Oli Driscoll
Oli graduated with an MChem from the University of Bath in 2017. This included a year-long industrial placement at Sasol UK within the University of St. Andrews and a final year research project with the Webster Group on iron-catalysed dehydrochlorination. He is currently working on small molecule catalysis using earth abundant metals and is co-supervised by Dr. Andy Johnson. Other than living in the lab, Oli closely follows Bath rugby, plays football and has recently started learning to surf.
Jack Stewart
After receiving a BSc in Chemistry from the University of South Wales, Jack moved down the road to Cardiff to complete an MSc in Catalysis. This included a summer research project with Dr Ben Ward applying aluminium complexes to isocyanate trimerisation. Upon graduation, Jack was accepted onto the CDT in Catalysis and had the opportunity to complete two research sabbaticals looking at the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to methanol with Professor David Fermin in Bristol and the catalytic treatment of wastewater with Professor Graham Hutchings in Cardiff. For his PhD, Jack joined the Jones Group to look at metal initiators for the polymerisation and depolymerisation of biopolymers. Outside of the lab, Jack enjoys playing the banjo (and other stringed instruments) as well as travelling and cooking.
Jack Payne
Jack graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Bath in 2018. During his degree, Jack undertook a yearlong industrial placement at Shell, where he worked primarily on the development of novel diesel performance additives for use in future Shell V-Power products, but also on preliminary work in the e-mobility sector. Upon returning to Bath, Jack pursued a Master’s research project under the supervision of Professor Matthew Davidson investigating Titanium Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as novel catalysts for Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF) synthesis, a renewable alternative to PET. Driven by his passion for sustainability, Jack subsequently joined the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT), focusing his research on technology to enable the bioeconomy, namely catalysis for biopolymer production and polymer recycling into value-added products. In his spare time, Jack enjoys playing football, squash and golf, as well as hiking and travelling.
Sandeep Kaler
Sandeep graduated with an MSci in Chemistry from Queen Mary University of London in 2017. During her final year, she worked under the supervision of Dr. Cristina Giordano investigating transition metal nitride and carbide catalysts. Upon completion of her degree, Sandeep spent 14 months working with radioactive pharmaceuticals for Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy based in Guildford. In 2018, Sandeep joined the Catalysis CDT and completed two research sabbaticals, including one under the supervision of Prof. Paul Pringle at the University of Bristol, investigating fluorophosphite ligands for hydroformylation catalysts, and another under Dr. Jonathan Bartley in the CCI at Cardiff University, working on heterogeneous catalysis. Outside of the lab Sandeep enjoys running and competing in half marathons, cooking and travelling.
Previous Group Members
PhD Students
Dr James Beament (2019)
Dr Helena Quilter (2018)
Dr Sarah Kirk (2017)
Dr Paul McKeown (2017)
Dr Heather Parker (2015)
Dr Tom Forder (2014)
Dr Rhodri Owen (2014)
Dr Christopher Ready (2013)
Dr Stuart Hancock (2013)
Dr Carlo Di Iulio (2012)
Dr Christine Cooper (2012)
Dr Emma Whitelaw (2011)
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Co-supervised PhDs
Dr Strachan McCormick
Dr Kathryn Wills (2014)
Dr Glyn Griffiths (2014)
Dr Daniel Minnett (2013)
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Previous PDRAs
Dr Tomos Clarke (2016-2018)
Dr Massi Vezzoli (2013-2014)
​Dr Marek Lewandowski (2013-2014)
Dr Justin O’Byrne (2012-2015)
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Visiting Students
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Daniel Ditz (RWTH Aachen University, 2018)
Pascal Schäfer (RWTH Aachen University, 2014, 2017)
Angela Metz (RWTH Aachen University, 2017)
Simoní da Ros (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 2015-2016)
Fernando S. Peleias Junior (University of São Paulo, 2014-2015)