Timothy Donohoe

I am in charge of the group! My research interests are in all areas of asymmetric synthesis and the total synthesis of natural products. The areas of catalysis, carbohydrates and redox chemistry are also fascinating to me. The education and training of the group is taken very seriously: I've been in Oxford for five years and I am proud to report that the group has grown to become expert in many areas of organic chemistry. Outside of the lab, I have a young family to look after so there is not much time for other activities. However, I do play squash regularly, go to the gym occasionally and look forward to a round of golf when time permits.

Gráinne Hargaden

I am currently working on the total synthesis of allosamidin. I completed my PhD under the supervision of Professor Pat Guiry at University College Dublin in July 2007, developing new chiral ligands for chromium-catalysed asymmetric aldehyde allylation. In my spare time I enjoy listening to music, playing the clarinet and keeping up to date with gaelic sports.

Neil Kershaw

I am currently working on the total synthesis of deoxypukalide utilising a novel metathesis strategy. I completed my PhD under the supervision of Dr Roger Whitehead at the University of Manchester in September 2006 and investigated predisposed pathways to sponge metabolites, completing total syntheses of plakoridines A and B. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, playing the trumpet and listening to a wide variety of music.

Aida Flores

I obtained my PhD in CSIC (Madrid, Spain) with Dr. Viso and Prof. Fernández de la Pradilla in the asymmetric synthesis of oxopiperazinic compounds from enantiopure N-sulfinyl-1,3-imidazolidines. Currently I am working in the synthesis of epi-hygromycin. Outside of the lab, I enjoy travelling as much as possible, going out with friends, listening to music and cooking.

Maria-Héléna Gonçalves-Farbos

I obtained my PhD under the supervision of Professor Jérôme Lacour at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in December 2007, on the recent developments on the enantioselective [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement. I am currently working on the ammonia-free Birch reduction of pyrroles. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the synthesizer, tennis, cooking especially desserts and I am interested in Portuguese culture.

Irene Walz

I am currently working on the total synthesis of (–)-lemonomycin. I completed my PhD under the supervision of Professor Antonio Togni at the ETH in Zurich (Switzerland) in August 2007, developing catalytic enantioselective Nazarov cyclisations. I have a soft spot for exciting books, extravagant shoes and excellent food.

Farrah Bhattii

My research is focussed on understanding the mechanism of one of the group's favourite reactions, the ammonia-free Birch reduction. I work in collaboration with members of the Compton group to utilise electrochemical techniques to gain a greater understanding of the mechanism of reduction of a range of functional groups. I obtained my MSci degree from Imperial College. My penultimate year was spent on industrial placement at Pfizer, Ann Arbor and during my final year I worked on the asymmetric synthesis of crinatusin A1 and A2 with Dr. K. K. (Mimi) Hii. Outside of lab hours I'm usually found watching cricket, swimming, hanging out in the Oriel MCR making cocktails or spending obscene amounts of money on shoes and bags.

Oli Williams

I am studying metal mediated oxidative cyclisations leading to trans-THFs. I did my undergraduate degree at Oriel College, Oxford and worked in Steve Davies’s lab for my Part II, where I looked at the application of lithium amide additions to the synthesis of various heterocyclic natural products. Outside the lab I row for my college and enjoy a few other sports at quite a low level of competency.

Ptoton M. Brian

I am currently working on the synthesis of cylindricine A using the ammonia-free Birch reduction. I graduated in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) in 2004 and have returned to Chemistry after working as a development officer in Kenya for two years. Outside the lab I enjoy playing and watching football and playing pool in the college bar.

Jessica Kershaw

I'm developing a synthesis towards the natural product Microsclerodermin B. As a Part II in Tim's group I worked on the ammonia-free Birch reduction of quinolinium salts. In my free time I like to relax with a nice pint and go horse riding whenever I can (not together of course...) I also like to cheer on my home football team, Crewe Alexandra, to their somewhat sporadic successes.

Peter Linsday-Scott

Having completed my Part II Project in the Donohoe group, I have returned as a DPhil student to work on the synthesis of trans-pyrrolidines via oxidative cyclisations. I’m still at Hertford College and spend my free time travelling, playing the guitar, composing epic masterpieces and listening to as much music as I can. I’m also a keen swimmer and am looking forward to one day making it out of the slow lane.

Timothy O'Riordan

I completed my Part II project in the Donohoe group working on the synthesis of the alexine pyrrolizidine alkaloids and am currently working on the synthesis of oxazolomycin A. I presented a poster at the fall ACS meeting in Philadelphia and am now back in the lab after my CASE placement at GSK in Stevenage. When not in the lab I'll be found playing squash, badminton or in the swimming pool. I sing tenor in the Trinity College choir, play classical guitar and am still trying to convert the TJD group to the benefits of Irish folk music.

José Basutto

I am working on the metathesis based approach to the synthesis of heterocyclic aromatic compounds ring closing metathesis reaction. I undertook my undergraduate studies in Melbourne and carried out my Honours year at the Australian National University in the Banwell Group before coming to sunny England to join the Donohoe Group. Outside of the lab I enjoy planning trips with my wife, Michelle, developing black and white film and talking about the weather.

Cedric Callens

Bonjour! I graduated in Chemistry from the School of Montpellier (ENSCM) in 2007 and will be working on the development of some aspects of the aminohydroxylation in the group. During my spare time (if any), I would love to improve my Japanese ... and one new country per year sounds like a good motto!

Matthew Connolly

After completing my Part II project in the group, working on pyrrolidine formation via oxidative cyclisation, I have returned to develop the partial reduction of various pyridinium salts. I am currently at Hertford College and in my free time I enjoy swimming, pub quizzes, listening to music (a combination of "dad rock" and epic guitar solos) and, of course, the occasional pint of Guinness!

Ali Jahanshahi E.

I am a graduate of the University of Lund (Sweden) and I am undertaking my DPhil research in the Donohoe group.

Adam Lacy

After working in the group during my Part II year on the use of RCM to deliver aromatic heterocycles, I have stayed on to develop methodology for the diamination of olefins. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, cooking and playing the tambourine in a funk band.

Paul Winship

After working on the synthesis of (+)cyclizidine in my part II year in the Donohoe group, I have returned to start a 4 year DPhil working on the catalytic osmium-mediated oxidative cyclization reaction to form THF's. In my spare time, I'm either in the pub or can be found rowing or playing football, along with attempting other sports that I'm fairly bad at.

Emma Wallace

I am currently starting my second year, of a four year DPhil, sponsored by the BBSRC. I am working on the development of Os(VIII) complexes to analyse DNA for 5-Methylcytosine, in collaboration with Professor H. Bayley. I am a member of Linacre College and in my spare time I enjoy going out with friends, cooking, listening to music and playing hockey for my college team

Mark Binley

. Dr Luiz Claudio A. Barbosa

I am currently working on the synthesis of Streptonigrin, an antibiotic isolated from Strepomyces flocculus. I graduated in Chemistry at University of Vicosa (Brazil) and got a PhD from University of Reading under the supervision of Prof. John Mann. Since 1983 I have been lecturing at the University of Vicosa, where I also play the clarinet at the University orchestra.

• Dr Peter Moore (postdoc, 1995-1997) is now a synthetic organic chemist at AstraZeneca.
• Dr Clare Stevenson (PhD, 1995-1998) is a medicinal organic chemist at Albany Molecular (NY state, US).
• Dr Paul Guyo (PhD, 1995-1998) did a postdoc with George Olah- nobel laureate (Los Angeles, US) and is now a synthetic organic chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Mike Waring (PhD, 1996- 1999) did a postdoc with Phil Magnus (Texas, US) and is now a medicinal organic chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Rakesh Harji (PhD, 1996- 1999) started as a synthetic organic chemist with AstraZeneca: he is now a patent attorney with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Jon Winter (PhD, 1997-2000) Is a medicinal organic chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Kevin Blades (postdoc, 1997-2000) is now a synthetic organic chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Karl Ace (PhD, 1997-2000) did a postdoc with J. Sutherland (Manchester) and now works as a production chemist for GlaxoSmithKline.
• Dr Andrew McRiner (PhD, 1997-2000) is now a medicinal organic chemist with Novartis (New Jersey, US).
• Dr Andrew Calabrese (postdoc, 1999-2001) is now a medicinal organic chemist with Pfizer.
• Dr Ali Raoof (PhD, 2002) is now a synthetic organic chemist with Evotec OAI (Abingdon).
• Dr Lee Mitchell (PhD, 1999-2001) is a postdoc with Professor N. Simpkins (Notingham).
• Dr J. -B. Guillermin (PhD, 1999-2001) is now a postdoc with Professor P. Grieco (Montana, US).
• Dr David House (postdoc, 2000-2002) is now a medicinal organic chemist with GlaxoSmithKline.
• Dr Catherine Headley (PhD, 1999-2002) is now a postdoc wth Dr. S. Marsden (Leeds)..
• Dr James Logan (PhD, 1999-2002) is now a synthetic organic chemist with Almac Sciences Limited.
• Dr Laura Mace (D.Phil, 2000-2003) did a postdoc with Professor J. White (Oregon State University, US) and is now a process research chemist with GlaxoSmithKline (Tonbridge).
• Dr Peter Johnson (D.Phil, 2000-2003) did a postdoc with Professor V. Rawal (University of Chicago) and is now a medicinal organic chemist with VastOx (Oxford).
• Dr F. Turner (D.Phil, 2000-2003) is currently a synthetic organic chemist with Ferring Ltd (Southampton) .
• Dr David Carbery (postdoc 2003) did another postdoc with Alan Armstrong (Imperial College) and is now a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Bath.
• Dr R. Pye (postdoc 2002-2004) is currently a medicinal organic chemist with VastOx (Oxford).
• Dr H. Sintim (postdoc 2002-2004) did a postdoc with Eric Kool (Stanford) and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Maryland (US).
• Dr Sam Butterworth (DPhil, 2001-2004) is currently a medicinal organic chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Graeme Freestone (DPhil, 2001-2004) is now a postdoc with K. C. Nicolaou (Scripps, California).
• Dr Peter Turner (DPhil, 2002-2005) is now a process research chemist with GlaxoSmithKline (Stevenage).
• Dr Alan Ironmonger (postdoc 2005-06) is now a process research chemist with GlaxoSmithKline (Tonbridge).
• Dr Caroline Rigby (DPhil 2002-2005) is now a postdoc with Darren Dixon (Manchester).
• Dr Majid Chughtai (DPhil 2002-2005) is now a postdoc with Albert Padua (Emory, Atlanta).
• Dr Robert Harris (DPhil 2003-2006) is now a process research chemist with GlaxoSmithKline (Stevenage).
• Dr Dale Johnson (DPhil 2003-2006) is now a medicinal chemist with GlaxoSmithKline (Harlow).
• Dr Paolo Innocenti (postdoc 2006-2007) is now a postdoc in Dr Antony Fairbank's group (Oxford).
• Dr Carole Bataille (postdoc 2005-2007) is now a postdoc in Dr John Brown's group (Oxford).
• Dr Gwydion Churchill (posdoc 2005-2007) is now a Process Chemist with AstraZeneca.
• Dr Fátima Churruca (postdoc 2005-2007)
• Dr David Klauber (DPhil 2004-2007) is now a process research chemist with AstraZeneca
• Dr Rhian Thomas (DPhil 2004-2007)
• Dr Matthew Cheeseman (2006-2008)
• Dr Lisa Fishlock (DPhil 2005-2008)

Postdoctoral Researchers