Hi, I’m James! Originally from Southwest England, I grew up in Salisbury. I completed my MChem at the University of Southampton, with a brief stint at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, where I developed droplet based microfluidic systems for chemical analysis. I then moved to Durham University for my PhD studies in 2018, working under Dr Matthew Kitching, where I investigated compartmentalisation of chemical reactivity using stimulus responsive droplets. In 2023, I started a PDRA at Durham, working under Professors Clare Mahon and Andrew Beeby, developing new analytical tools to optimise the effectiveness of detergent formulations. In 2026, took up a position in the Fielden Group, where I will be investigating Ostwald ripening and its use in developing dynamic nanoemulsions. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, going on walks, and spending time with my cat.

Hey, I’m David, from Asturias, Spain! I obtained my BSc. in Chemistry in the University of Oviedo, close to my home, focusing on the synthesis of new MOFs for sensing applications with Prof. García-Alonso. From there, I moved to Donostia, to obtain a MSc. in Nanoscience, where I worked with Dr. Malo de Molina in the synthesis and characterisation through scattering techniques of protein-based single chain nanoparticles. Shortly after, I ended up in Germany, at the Technical University of Munich, under the supervision of Prof. Costa, working on the fabrication of LEDs based on chemically modified fluorescent proteins. And now I am here! With Steve, we hope to devise new strategies to control Ostwald ripening, making use of light as our stimulus. Chances are, if I am not in the lab, I am either rowing, cycling, or obsessing about trains and other transit systems.

Hi, I’m Dan - originally from Portugal, but I've grown up mainly in South West London. My undergraduate and Master's studies were completed at the University of Oxford (MChem), where I was a student at Teddy Hall. My Master’s research focused on designing and developing stimuli-responsive, Boolean logic-gated polymeric and liposomal nanoparticles for use as MRI contrast agents. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, sports, and the occasional pub quiz.

I’m Qiuxia Tan from China. I graduated from Central South University. My previous research was focussed around tumour photodynamic therapy technology. During my free time I love playing badminton, listening to music, or just sleeping. If you want to play mahjong, come with me!

Hi, I’m Kester from Sheffield! I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees at Durham University, where I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Mark Fox on the synthesis of complex carboracycles – specifically molecules featuring meta-carborane. It was a fascinating and technically challenging project, often involving weeks of tricky separation work. I’m now excited to take on new challenges and explore different areas of chemistry. Outside the lab, I love playing guitar, writing and recording music, and diving into all kinds of genres – any album recommendations are appreciated!