Dave volunteers for the Dalton Nuclear Institute STEM Ambassadors Team to present science and engineering exhibits during a campus visit by Claremont Primary School Year 6.
June 2024
Dave organises and Chairs the inaugural UoM Chemistry Social Mobility Symposium, which recognises and celebrates the social mobility of current staff and students on Social Mobility Day.
February 2024
Hannah and Dave volunteer at the Dalton Nuclear Institute for Green Together at Manchester Central Library to communicate the role of nuclear power in the UK Energy portfolio.
July 2023
Gemma spends three days at Bluedot Festival working with the Dalton Nuclear Institute on a stall covering nuclear energy and radioactivity.
May 2023
Dave and Gemma co-organise three Pint of Science events, and co-lead the event Fuelling Our Future. Our thanks go to speakers, attendees, and the Tech Me Out and Manchester PoS teams.
March 2023
Dave and Gemma volunteer at the Dalton Nuclear Institute stall at the Manchester Museum for British Science Week, presenting on nuclear power and radiation.
October 2022
Dave and Gemma present at the Dalton Nuclear Institute exhibit on radiation and nuclear energy at ScienceX in Manchester Central Library.
Dave is interviewed by Jennifer Newton for Chemistry World magazine about the award-winning work done by the group and our collaborators on the f-elements. Read the full article here.
Dave is interviewed by Rachel Brazil as part of her feature article for Chemistry World magazine on using molecules for magnetic data storage. Read the full article here.
March 2021
Gemma gives a radio interview on the Einstein A Go-Go show on 3RRRFM in Melbourne, speaking about Single-Molecule Magnets. Listen to the podcast here.
December 2020
Dave writes a blog about our recent paper in Nature Chemistry on the isolation of a derivatised ferrocene anion to the Nature Chemistry Community; see the blog here.
July 2020
Dave gives an online seminar for the University of Manchester ChemSoc and Chemistry PASS Meet the Academics Event. Thanks to the organisers - see the talk here.
May 2019
The Story Behind Dysprosocenium, a blog written by Dave as part of Nature Publishing Group's IYPT2019 celebrations, is published on the Nature Research Chemistry Community.
October 2018
Our work on the potential of lanthanide single molecule magnets in high density data storage has been highlighted on CAMERA (Chemistry At Manchester Explains Research Advances): see the video here.
June 2018
Dave works with Parrs Wood High School to make a video on single molecule magnets for the British Science Association SCI-CAST Event - thanks to all for a fun afternoon!
December 2017
Our work on high temperature molecular magnetic hysteresis is showcased in the latest edition of The University of Manchester Faculty of Science and Engineering magazine, In Abstract 4. See the press release here.
November 2017
Dave has contributed to the YouTube Channel CAMERA (Chemistry At Manchester Explains Research Advances), presenting recent findings on actinide covalency: https://youtu.be/jeB3ENfMbRE
March 2017
Dave gives a talk for the British Science Association Manchester Science Journalism Competition 2017 and has an enjoyable time talking to young scientists.
December 2016
Our work on measuring actinide covalency by pulsed EPR spectroscopy is highlighted by The University of Manchester in a press release here.
March 2016
Dave has a blog published on the Nuclear Hitchhiker website, commenting on the impact of the Fukishima disaster.
December 2015
Dave has a blog published on the Nuclear Hitchhiker website, commenting on the long term storage of nuclear waste.
March 2015
Dave was a consultant for BBC Worldwide, giving advice on experiments performed in the interactive YouTube show "Biggest Bangs": www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvblSXIdf3A
Gemma, Sophie, Peter and Dave are all co-authors on a collaborative paper with the Chilton group analysing the magnetic relaxation of dysprosocenium cations inJournal of Physical Chemistry A.
Jack B. leads a collaborative paper in JACS Au on paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy of lanthanide silylphosphide complexes with the Lee and Chilton groups.
January 2025
Daniel Traynor has joined the group as a PDRA working on a project sponsored by Rolls-Royce - welcome Daniel!
December 2024
PengBo leads a paper published in Chemical Science in collaboration with the Winpenny and Zheng groups on rare earth amidinate complexes bridged by benzene tetraanions.
Sophie leads a paper published in Chemical Science in collaboration with the Chilton group on unusual fluorobenzene-bound half-sandwich (piano stool) lanthanide compounds.
November 2024
Dave gives an invited seminar at Trinity College Dublin. Thanks very much to the hosts for the kind invitation and their hospitality.
Gemma and Hannah N. lead a collaborative paper with groups in Manchester and Australia on trigonal planar lanthanide amide aminoxyl complexes in Inorganic Chemistry.
Sophie, Gemma and Dave report the magnetic properties of dysprosocene complexes bound by weakly coordinating anions in Dalton Transactions.
October 2024
Work led by Jack Baldwin on the synthesis and characterisation of lanthanide(II) bis(triisopropylsilyl)phosphide complexes is published in Inorganic Chemistry.
Dave visits Australian National University as the David Craig Visiting Professor, and as part of the visit to Australia gives talks at ANU, University of Sydney, Monash University and University of Melbourne.
September 2024
Dave, Jack B, Sophie, Jack E-K and Hannah attend the Terrae Rarae conference in Stuttgart, with the first three giving talks and the other two presenting posters. Jack E-K won one of two poster prizes!
After six years in the group as MChem, PhD student and PDRA, Sophie has left the group to embark on her career in the nuclear industry. Thanks for everything Sophie!
Sam has joined the group as a PhD student, and Gui has joined as an MChem student. Welcome both!
Jack's work on lanthanide(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphide complexes in collaboration with other groups at Manchester has just been published in Inorg. Chem.
August 2024
The group attend Dalton Northern in Manchester Chemistry. Sophie gives a talk, and Hannah, Ahmad and Kholil present posters. Thanks to Conrad and Darren for organising the conference!
We have moved to our new and shiny lab space on the third floor of the Chemistry building - thanks to all for helping us with the move and getting set up in our new home!
A preprint of work led by Gemma and Hannah N. on lanthanide silylamide aminoxyl complexes, together with groups at Manchester and Australia, has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
July 2024
A preprint of work led by Jack B. on the first f-element bis(triisopropylsilyl)phosphide complexes in collaboration with other groups at Manchester has just been deposited on ChemRxiv.
A preprint of work led by Jack B. on 31P NMR studies of lanthanide(III) phosphide complexes in collaboration with other groups at Manchester has just been deposited on ChemRxiv.
Dave gives a talk at the 9th ECMM in Krakow, and Gemma presents some of the work that she did at Manchester before her move to Florence. Thanks to the organisers for a fab conference!
A preprint of work led by Jack E-K on a high-performance dysprosium bis-amide alkene single molecule magnet in collaboration with the Chilton group has just been deposited on ChemRxiv.
A preprint of Jack Baldwin's work on lanthanide(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphide complexes in collaboration with other groups at Manchester has just been deposited on ChemRxiv.
Our work led by Ben on 29Si NMR shifts of paramagnetic f-block hypersilanide complexes has just been published in JACS Au.
Dave's News & Views Nature Chemistry article highlighting the recent work of the Schäfer Group on heterobimetallocenes in the same journal has been published.
June 2024
Our collaborative work with the Chilton group on a six-legged piano stool dysprosium single-molecule magnet led by Sophie is now available as a pre-print on ChemRxiv.
Jack Baldwin has completed his PhD viva. Many congrats Jack, richly deserved, and all the best for the future Dr Baldwin! Thanks go to the examiner team Dr Joy Farnaby and Dr Conrad Goodwin.
Ondrej has finished his three month Erasmus+ placement with the group - all the best for the future and thanks very much for everything!
The group attends the Department of Chemistry Postgraduate Research Conference, and Hannah presents a poster.
Elif Zeynep Erten has started working in the group for her RSC-sponsored undergraduate summer project, and Chen Huang for his MSc project. Welcome both!
A preprint on work between groups at Manchester and ANU on paramagnetic 29Si NMR shifts of early f-block hypersilanide complexes has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
May 2024
Our collaborative paper between groups at Manchester and UC Irvine on potential lanthanum(II) qudits has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
April 2024
Ondrej Fellner, a PhD student working with Dr Ivan Nemec in Palacký University Olomouc, joins the group for a three month Erasmus+ placement - welcome Ondrej!
March 2024
Dave gives two talks at Xi'an Jiaotong University, one to the inorganic chemistry section and one to the Faculty. Thanks to the hosts for the invite and hospitality!
Dave is made Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, FRSC.
February 2024
Sophie leads two back-to-back papers in InorganicChemistry on the first structurally characterised f-block halobenzene complexes, in collaboration with the Chilton group.
January 2024
Gemma is presented with an Outstanding Achievement Award by Manchester Chemistry and gives a talk, on her last day working with us. Thanks for everything Gemma and best wishes!
Jack E-K leads our latest paper in Journal of the American Chemical Society in collaboration with the Chilton and Clerac Groups, on a long sought-after bent dysprosium single-molecule magnet.
Our latest collaborative work with groups at Manchester on pulsed EPR spectroscopy of lanthanide cyclopentadienyl complexes, with Jingjing leading synthesis, is published in Chemical Science.
Dave and Gemma attend the Manchester Spin Meeting. Gemma gives a talk, thanks very much to the organisers!
Ahmad Babtain has started his MPhil research project in our group and Kholil Rahman has started a PhD together with Dr Meagan Oakley and Prof. Nick Chilton as PI - welcome both!
December 2023
Jack B., Hannah and Dave attend Dalton Northern in Sheffield. Jack gives a talk and Hannah gives a poster, thanks very much to the organisers!
Our lab is awarded LEAF Bronze together with Dr Louise Natrajan's group, showing our commitment to sustainability. Thanks to Hannah and Connor for leading on our application.
Phil Cobb and Dave are co-authors on a review of f-element heavy group 15 chemistry together with Prof. Steve Liddle, Dr Jingzhen Du and Junru Ding published in Chemical Science.
November 2023
PengBo leads our collaborative work with Prof. Yan-Zhen Zheng at XJTU and other groups at Manchester Chemistry on lanthanide(II) amidinate SMMs, published in Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Our collaborative paper with the Chilton group led by Sophie on haloarene-bound decamethyldysprosocenium cations is deposited on ChemRxiv.
Dave gives an online talk for the Angular Momentum lecture series, thanks to the organisers for the invite.
In collaboration with the Chilton group work led by Sophie and Gemma on the effects of haloarene coordination on dysprosocenium single-molecule magnets is deposited on ChemRxiv.
Our collaborative work led by Jack E-K on the synthesis and magnetic properties of a dysprosium bis-amide compound has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
October 2023
Dave is a co-author on a collaborative paper in Inorganic Chemistry led by Dr Cory Windorff on comparisons of phosphine oxide adducts of plutonium and thorium halides.
Collaborative work led by Jingjing on a new series of non-traditional early lanthanide(II) tris-cyclopentadienyl complexes has been published in European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry.
Dave gives an invited seminar at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. Thanks very much to Prof. Marinella Mazzanti for hosting and many congratulations to soon-to-be Dr Dieuwertje Modder for an excellent doctoral thesis defence.
September 2023
Jiaming Chen (Tom) has joined the group for his final year MChem project - welcome Tom!
Dave gives invited seminars at the CNRS in Montpelier and the CNRS in Dijon, France. Thanks very much to the respective hosts Dr Florian Jarochik and Dr Adrien Normand.
Gemma gives a talk and presents a poster at the 18th International Conference on Molecular Magnetism in Nanjing, and also gives a talk at the Rising Star Symposium.
Work led by Jingjing on the synthesis of non-traditional lanthanide(II) complexes has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
August 2023
Our collaborative work with researchers at the UK EPSRC National EPR Facility on pulsed EPR spectra of early lanthanide compounds has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
At the 11th International Conference on f-Element Chemistry in Strasbourg Gemma and Dave give talks, and Sophie, Jack E.-K. and Jack B. present posters.
Dave has been accredited as a Recognised Research Supervisor by the UK Council for Graduate Education.
July 2023
Our collaborative work with authors at Manchester and XJTU led by Peng-Bo on low oxidation state lanthanide amidinate single-molecule magnets has been deposited on ChemRxiv.
Sophie and Catherine graduate with PhD and MChem degrees, respectively - many congrats both!
Jack B. gives his final year PhD talk at the Manchester Chemistry Postgraduate Research Conference, many congrats Jack!
Dave is recognised as an Outstanding Reviewer by Chemical Science for reviews performed in 2022.
June 2023
Gemma gives a talk at the Theoretical and Experimental Magnetism Conference (TEMM) 2023 at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
Jack B., Sophie and Jack E-K. are awarded travel bursaries from the Royal Society of Chemistry to attend ICfE11, and Gemma receives a Young Researcher Fellowship to attend ICfE11.
Our collaborative work with the Chilton group assessing the best ways to measure magnetic relaxation pathways in high-temperature single-molecule magnets is published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics - many congrats all!
May 2023
Ben leads a collaborative paper in Dalton Transactions with Dukula, and Ash and Steve from the Liddle group comparing the second example of a thorium-silicon bond with group 4 metal analogues.
Dr Sophie Corner passes her PhD viva - many congrats Sophie and thanks to Dr Florian Jaroschik and Prof. Eric McInnes for examining duties. Sophie is staying in the group for a postdoc!
Corentin and Catherine have leaving dos and Catherine gives her final year MChem talk - thanks for everything to both of you!
Dave is recognised as an outstanding reviewer for Chemical Science in 2023, selected by the editorial team for significant contribution to the journal’s peer review in 2022/23.
April 2023
Gemma gives a lecture tour in Australia at the Universities of Adelaide and Melbourne. Thanks for the hospitality!
The group attend Dalton 2023. Dave, Jack E.-K., Sophie and Corentin give talks, Jack B. and Hannah present posters. A great time was had by all!
March 2023
Dave and Prof. Nick Chilton are awarded £314k from the Leverhulme Trust to investigate the synthesis and electronic structures of (hetero)metallocene anions.
February 2023
Gemma and Sophie lead our collaborative work with the Chilton group on the use of AtomAccess in designing dysprosocenium SMMs, now available on ChemRxiv.
Our collaborative work with the Chilton group on choosing the most appropriate method to measure magnetic relaxation in SMMs has been published as a preprint on ChemRxiv.
Our recent collaborative work with the Chilton group on measuring the tunnelling gap in a dysprosocenium single-molecule magnet is published in Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.
Vijay leads a collaborative paper published in Chemical Communications with the Overgaard, Chilton and Skelton groups studying the effect of pressure on a dysprosocenium SMM.
December 2022
Ben leads a paper in Inorganic Chemistry in collaboration with the Liddle group, preparing the first examples of rare earth methanediide silanide complexes.
Dave gives an invited departmental seminar at IIT Madras in India. Thanks very much to the hosts for the welcome!
Gemma and Ben lead a paper in Chemical Science in collaboration with the Liddle and Chilton groups, comparing the electronic structures of d- and f-block metal silanide complexes.
November 2022
Dave gives a Chemistry departmental seminar at Cardiff University. Thanks very much to the hosts for their hospitality!
September 2022
Dave, Sophie and Jack E-K give talks and Jack B and Gemma present posters at the Terrae Rarae conference in Leipzig. Sophie and Gemma win prizes, many congrats to both of you!
Hannah Redmill has joined the group for her PhD and Catherine Clayton has joined for her final year MChem project - welcome both!
Dave gives a talk and Gemma gives a prize-winning poster at the Actinides Revisited conference in Dresden. Many congrats Gemma!
Dave gives plenary lectures at ERA14 in York Railway Museum and MICRA 2022 at Durham University, thanks to the organisers for the invites and putting together such great conferences!
Carlo Andrea and Tom have finished their work with the group. Thanks very much for everything and wishing you well for your next placements and beyond!
July 2022
Tom and Sophia finish their summer research placements in the lab - all the best for the future both!
Jack E.-K. and Corentin give talks and Sophie presents a poster at the 29th International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry in Prague, Czech Republic.
Gemma gives a talk at the 8th European Conference on Molecular Magnetism in Rennes, France.
June 2022
Dave gives a talk and Jack presents a poster at the 29th Rare Earth Research Conference in Philadelphia, USA.
Dave gives a talk at the Stratingh Institute day for the University of Groningen, thanks to the organisers for the invite!
At the UoM Chemistry Postgraduate Research Conference Sophie and Corentin give talks and Jack B. presents a poster.
Sophia Sarfraz has started in the group for her UoM Chemistry-sponsored undergraduate summer research project. Welcome Sophia!
May 2022
Jack E.-K., Jack B., Gemma and Sophie are all awarded travel bursaries from the Royal Society of Chemistry to attend 2022 conferences.
Dave gives a talk at Keele University as part of the Keele Chemical Sciences Symposium.
Dave gives a talk at the Eddleman Quantum Institute Gathering on Quantum Science conference at Chateau Balleroy, France.
Dave is presented with the 2022 University of Manchester Student’s Union Award for Exceptional Feedback.
April 2022
Dave gives the closing talk at the Danish Chemical Society Inorganic Graduate Student Seminar at the University of Southern Denmark, thanks for the invite and hospitality.
Dave gives a departmental seminar at Copenhagen University, thanks to the hosts for the welcome.
Sophie and Conrad lead a group paper in the Australian Journal of Chemistry on the synthesis of yttrium and dysprosium complexes with bulky silyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands.
Wang Ngai Chung (Tom) has started in the group for his research project as part of his MSc in Chemistry. Welcome Tom!
March 2022
Corentin is awarded a travel bursary by the Royal Society of Chemistry Manchester and District Local Section to attend a 2022 conference.
Dave gives a departmental seminar at Heriot-Watt University, thanks very much to the local hosts for the welcome.
February 2022
Peng-Bo Jin, a PhD student with Yanzhen Zheng at Xi'an JiaoTong University, has moved to Manchester for 1 year to work with Richard Winpenny and Dave. Welcome PengBo!
January 2022
Dave and ex-group member Conrad's book chapter on lanthanide small molecule activation is published in the textbook The Lanthanides and Actinides.
Ben has finished his postdoc and is now moving two flights of stairs to work with the Mehta group - all the best in your new role Ben, we will miss you!
Carlo Andrea has started in the group as a postdoc - welcome back to Manchester!
November 2021
Ally is first author and Fabs second on a collaborative paper in Inorganics with the Magnets Group led by Dave and Louise, on uranium and lanthanum complexes with hexadentate ligands.
Andreas finishes his placement in our group and returns to Denmark to complete his PhD. All the best for the future Andreas!
Francesco Vanin and James Whittlestone have joined the group for their final year MChem projects - welcome both!
Andreas Munch Thiel, a PhD student with Dr Jacob Overgaard in Aarhus University, has joined the group on a three month internship - welcome Andreas!
Vijay, Marcus and Dave are co-authors on a collaborative paper in J. Phys. Chem. Lett. lead by Prof. Stefano Carretta, studying the molecular vibrations causing magnetic relaxation in high barrier dysprosium single-molecule magnets.
Dave wins the Hero of the Year Award at the University of Manchester Faculty of Science and Engineering Students Awards 2021, and is named in a number of other Award categories.
August 2021
Vijay finishes his postdoc in the group and moves to Dr Jacob Overgaard's group in Aarhus - all the best for the future Vijay, we will miss you!
Dave gives a talk at the Research Needs for Critical Minerals and Materials Workshop, in the 2021 User Meeting, Advanced Light Source, Berkeley, USA.
Vijay, Gemma and Dave are co-authors on a paper with Prof. Richard Winpenny in Chem. Commun. on distorted tetrahedral dysprosium aryloxide single-molecule magnets.
July 2021
Dave is Highly Commended in the Teaching Excellence Awards 2021 from the University of Manchester Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Ben gives a presentation at the Angular Momentum flash talks event celebrating 1 year of AM.
Ben gives a talk at the RSC Radiochemistry Group Young Researchers Meeting 2021.
June 2021
Vijay passes his PhD viva - many congrats Dr Parmar, richly deserved!
Ben gives a talk at RSC Dalton 2021, and Vijay and Gemma present posters at ICMM 2021.
Ben leads a paper inJ. Am. Chem. Soc. on collaborative work between our group and colleagues at Manchester on using 29Si NMR spectroscopy to benchmark s- and f-block covalency.
Dukula has started a summer project in the group, working with Ben on f-element silicon chemistry - welcome Dukula!
Dave and ex-group members Ally, Conrad, Fabs and Johnny are part of the team recognised by a 2021 RSC Dalton Division Horizon Prize Award for Molecular Magnetism. See details here.
Dave is promoted to full professor.
May 2021
Dave is selected as an Outstanding Reviewer for Dalton Transactions by the Editorial Board for peer reviews in 2020. See the editorial here.
Chelsea and Fraser finish their MChem projects. Thanks very much to both and all the best in the future!
April 2021
Ben passes his PhD viva, very well done Dr Reant and richly deserved!
March 2021
Chelsea and Fraser start working in the lab to do the practical component of their MChem projects.
Vijay and Ben submit their PhD theses and sign up as PDRAs with the group - many congrats to both!
Feburary 2021
Dave gives a talk on isolating a ferrocene anion for the University of Manchester's ChemSoc lecture series.
Vijay's, Dave's and Prof. Richard Winpenny's review of mononuclear dysprosium alkoxide and aryloxide single-molecule magnets is published in Chemistry - A European Journal.
January 2021
Dave and Peter's review of lanthanide and actinide phospholyl and arsolyl chemistry is published in Chemistry - A European Journal.
