Winter 2023 (l-r): Gemma Gransbury, Jack Emerson-King, Jack Baldwin, Hannah Redmill, Sophie Corner, David Mills, Jiaming Chen.
Current members
Postdoctoral researchers
Postdoctoral researchers
Dr Jack "Jek" Emerson-King (2019 - present)
Originally from sunny Worthing, Jek is slowly coming to terms with the Manchester climate, though somehow still doesn't own a raincoat, umbrella, or any waterproof shoes.
He obtained his MChem and PhD from the University of Warwick, the latter in the Chaplin Group doing things with rhodium and iridium phosphine complexes. He then proceeded to abandon radially expansive valence orbitals for a Post Doc in the Mills Group, working mostly with lanthanide silylamide complexes. Jek is still here, now back in the d-block exploring low-valent metallocene chemistry.
Outside the lab Jek can typically be found walking somewhere briskly, dividing ABV by GBP in a tap room, or planted in front of a computer with far too much RGB; playing poker, chess, or some sort of RTS game. For reasons that are entirely inconsistent, he has an irrational dislike of both double-barrelled surnames and three-letter acronyms.
He obtained his MChem and PhD from the University of Warwick, the latter in the Chaplin Group doing things with rhodium and iridium phosphine complexes. He then proceeded to abandon radially expansive valence orbitals for a Post Doc in the Mills Group, working mostly with lanthanide silylamide complexes. Jek is still here, now back in the d-block exploring low-valent metallocene chemistry.
Outside the lab Jek can typically be found walking somewhere briskly, dividing ABV by GBP in a tap room, or planted in front of a computer with far too much RGB; playing poker, chess, or some sort of RTS game. For reasons that are entirely inconsistent, he has an irrational dislike of both double-barrelled surnames and three-letter acronyms.
Dr Sophie Corner (2018-present)
Sophie worked with Fabs for her final year MChem project in 2018/19, investigating lanthanide complexes as single molecule magnets (SMMs). Previously an undergraduate at Newcastle University she migrated south for the more tropical climates of Manchester. Sophie stayed in the group to undertake her PhD in the synthesis of lanthanide metallocenium cation SMMs, and is currently a PDRA investigating f-element complexes with aromatic ligands.
Although born and raised in Manchester Sophie has an astounding lack of knowledge of where anything actually is within the city and could get lost walking in a straight line. In her spare time she enjoys attempting the gym, spending time with people your mother wouldn't approve of and generally finding ways to be very busy somehow. After many years of searching, she is yet to find any special talents (or magic powers) she possesses, but she can take off the peel of an orange in one go and she is proud of that.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Although born and raised in Manchester Sophie has an astounding lack of knowledge of where anything actually is within the city and could get lost walking in a straight line. In her spare time she enjoys attempting the gym, spending time with people your mother wouldn't approve of and generally finding ways to be very busy somehow. After many years of searching, she is yet to find any special talents (or magic powers) she possesses, but she can take off the peel of an orange in one go and she is proud of that.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
PhD students
Kholil Rahman (2024-2028)
''Kholil has lived in the Greater Manchester area since 2009 and completed his MChem at the University of Manchester. His 4th year project focused on establishing magneto structural relationship of hypothetical dysprosium complexes, under the supervision of Prof Nicholas Chilton. Now he is starting his PhD in Manchester, trying to understand the electronic structure of novel transition metal complexes, in a joint project under the supervision of Prof Nicholas Chilton, Prof David Mills and Dr Meagan Oakley.
Outside of Chemistry, Kholil is always trying to go to the gym more consistently or join the University's cricket team, but he hasn’t figured out how to do either. You might also see him with work of classic literature in his hand, but please don’t ask him if has ever finished one.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Outside of Chemistry, Kholil is always trying to go to the gym more consistently or join the University's cricket team, but he hasn’t figured out how to do either. You might also see him with work of classic literature in his hand, but please don’t ask him if has ever finished one.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Hannah Redmill (2022-2026)
Hannah is originally from Lincoln in the Midlands. In 2021/22, she worked on her final year MChem research project on group 2 metallocene complexes with CAAC ligands under the supervision of former group member, Dr Fabrizio Ortu, at the University of Leicester. Hannah has now moved to the University of Manchester to undertake her PhD in f-element heavy pnictogen complexes.
Being new to Manchester Hannah is still trying to not get lost trying to find everything in the city and acclimatising to the adverse weather conditions. Outside of Chemistry, Hannah pretends to be interested in keeping fit by running and playing tennis rather badly as well as watching it. She also enjoys trying new food recipes, finding different spots for a walk in Manchester, and watching live music.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Being new to Manchester Hannah is still trying to not get lost trying to find everything in the city and acclimatising to the adverse weather conditions. Outside of Chemistry, Hannah pretends to be interested in keeping fit by running and playing tennis rather badly as well as watching it. She also enjoys trying new food recipes, finding different spots for a walk in Manchester, and watching live music.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Jack Baldwin (2020-2024)
Jack (not to be confused with the other Jack) originally comes from a little town called Beverley, just north of Hull in East Yorkshire. As well as trying to adjust to the much wetter weather Manchester experiences, he is still trying to figure out where everything is in the city.
Discovering that he shared his name with a famous chemist, Jack knew that Chemistry was the route to go. He completed his MChem degree at Newcastle University doing his final year project with Dr. Keith Izod which involved working with bulky phosphine ligands. Jack has now moved to The University of Manchester to undertake his PhD in the synthesis of low coordinate f-element complexes.
You'll often find Jack playing video games from the likes of Pokemon, Zelda and Mario to Tomb Raider, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. He is also an avid binger of all things Netflix with comedy box sets being the usual go to choice and is usually found with a glass of wine in hand.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Discovering that he shared his name with a famous chemist, Jack knew that Chemistry was the route to go. He completed his MChem degree at Newcastle University doing his final year project with Dr. Keith Izod which involved working with bulky phosphine ligands. Jack has now moved to The University of Manchester to undertake his PhD in the synthesis of low coordinate f-element complexes.
You'll often find Jack playing video games from the likes of Pokemon, Zelda and Mario to Tomb Raider, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. He is also an avid binger of all things Netflix with comedy box sets being the usual go to choice and is usually found with a glass of wine in hand.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
Corentin Magnoux (2019-2024)
Corentin "Ted" Magnoux comes from Dijon in France (yes, he knows, like the mustard), where he completed his undergrad degree. He is currently working on cyclopentadienyl chemistry and weird oxidation states for his PhD. Corentin is back for trouble as he already spent 4 months in the group to study Cp-lanthanide chemistry as part of an internship for his master's degree.
When not in the lab, Corentin is most likely at home playing music or online games, or developing unnecessary skills like becoming a self-appointed Star Wars lore expert. On occasion, you might find him riding a bike somewhere, or in a bar nursing beer trying to improve his terrible pool skills.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
When not in the lab, Corentin is most likely at home playing music or online games, or developing unnecessary skills like becoming a self-appointed Star Wars lore expert. On occasion, you might find him riding a bike somewhere, or in a bar nursing beer trying to improve his terrible pool skills.
Contact: 5.52-5.53 School of Chemistry, [email protected]
MChem students
Jiaming Chen (2023-2024)
Jiaming (Tom) Chen is currently targeting the synthesis of non-classical f-block metal(II) complexes, under the guidance of Sophie.
Born in Guangdong, China, Tom moved to Liverpool when he was 4 years old and so is now fluent in Scouse (and he can still speak Cantonese).
Fun fact, Tom prefers Manchester over Liverpool.
Tom's favourite hobbies include meals out eating hot pot, playing pool and spending money on collecting shoes and colognes.
Born in Guangdong, China, Tom moved to Liverpool when he was 4 years old and so is now fluent in Scouse (and he can still speak Cantonese).
Fun fact, Tom prefers Manchester over Liverpool.
Tom's favourite hobbies include meals out eating hot pot, playing pool and spending money on collecting shoes and colognes.
MSc students
Ahmad Babtain (2024-)
Ahmad was born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, but managed to live in 7 different cities before entering his 20s. He did his bachelor’s at King Fahd’s University of Petroleum and Minerals, which has the longest university name in the world, where he conducted research on graphene and semi-conductor nanomaterials, mainly iron and molybdenum oxides. He then did his MSc at the university of Manchester where he undertook a biochemistry project, studying the central metabolism of P. Putida and E. Coli using genetically encoded biosensors. Ahmad is currently investigating lanthanide organometallic catalysts as a part of an MPhil degree in the Mills group.
Outside the lab, Ahmad enjoys cooking -if you define cooking as throwing random things in a pot and calling it a stew- and collecting old books. Ahmad loves going to used book sales to find and buy books printed >100 years ago that won’t crumble when he tries to read them. One of his dreams is to add a 19th century print of Alice in Wonderland and through the looking glass, his favourite escapism books, to his collection (he believes that finding one online is cheating).
Outside the lab, Ahmad enjoys cooking -if you define cooking as throwing random things in a pot and calling it a stew- and collecting old books. Ahmad loves going to used book sales to find and buy books printed >100 years ago that won’t crumble when he tries to read them. One of his dreams is to add a 19th century print of Alice in Wonderland and through the looking glass, his favourite escapism books, to his collection (he believes that finding one online is cheating).
Visiting and placement students