Speakers
Symposium 2024
'Beyond the Lab: Chemistry and Society'
Dr. Shuang Li - Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Shuang Li joined the Teichmann Lab, part of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute in June 2022 as a Senior Bioinformatician, where she focuses on studying age-dependent immunity changes and their genetic components. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biosystems Engineering from Zhejiang University and completed a master’s degree in Biosystems Engineering at Wageningen University. Shuang went on to earn her PhD at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), where she developed computational tools for variant genome interpretation in rare and complex diseases. Shuang's research expertise lies in applying cutting-edge deep-learning techniques and statistical analysis to genomics data, including single-cell and spatial genomics. She is currently involved in the Human Cell Atlas project, a global initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive reference map of all human cells to advance the understanding of health and disease. Her work supports the development of new computational methods to study the human immune system and its development, leveraging single-cell genomics for insights into both healthy and disease states.
Abstract:
Assembling the Human Cell Atlas: Examples from blood & vasculature
The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) project aims to create a comprehensive map of the human body at single-cell resolution using advanced molecular technologies. Single-cell genomics has transformed our understanding of both blood and solid tissues by providing detailed insights into cell composition, identity, and states. Currently, the HCA project is in the process of integrating and assembling extensive datasets across various tissues, enabling both cross-tissue comparisons and the development of population-scale reference atlases. In this presentation, I will discuss progress towards creating a population-scale single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from UK Biobank volunteers, along with an in-depth study of human vascular cells, which are crucial for transporting blood throughout the body. Populational-scale studies help uncover how genetic and environmental factors influence subtle variations in blood, while cross- tissue analyses reveal cell state adaptations necessary for delivering oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune cells to different organs. Both studies highlight recent discoveries from the Human Cell Atlas community, advancing our understanding of human biology at the cellular level.
Martine Schouten Hoogendijk - Process Engineer at Teijin Aramid
Martine Schouten Hoogendijk is a Process Engineer at Teijin Aramid, where she has worked since 2019, focusing on the polymerization and solvent recovery plants in Delfzijl. She holds both a Master and a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from the University of Groningen. During her master's research at Philips, Martine investigated environmental stress cracking (ESC) in injection-molded copolyesters, exploring the origins of process-induced ESC susceptibility and chain mobility. Her experience spans both academia and industry, with expertise in polymeric products and chemical process optimization. In addition to her academic work, Martine has also served as secretary of the board of G.T.D. Bernoulli 2014 - 2015.
Abstract:
Journey of innovation: From process to application
Teijin Aramid, a world leader in aramid production and part of the Teijin Group, specializes in high-performance aramid fibers renowned for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, heat resistance, and wide range of applications. The company’s products, Twaron®, Teijinconex® and Technora®, produced sustainably in the Netherlands, Thailand, and Japan, are critical in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, safety and life protection. In my talk, I will explore the processes of making these high-performance materials and detailing the properties that make them essential for high-performance applications. Teijin’s mission is to empower people and enhance the quality of life. To do this we continually innovate through research and development, and co-creating sustainable, and industry-specific solutions with our partners. By turning “what if?” into “what is,” Teijin Aramid is committed to realizing a sustainable future through cutting-edge material science.
Prof. Avelino Corma - Polytechnic University of Valencia
Avelino Corma is a Professor at the Instituto de Tecnología Química of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and a renowned expert in heterogeneous catalysis. He earned his Bachelor in Chemistry from the University of Valencia in 1973 and his PhD from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1976. In 1979 he started working as a researcher at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and in 1987 he was a full professor. With nearly 40 years of research experience, Avelino has worked extensively on acid-base and redox catalysis, developing commercially used catalysts for processes like cracking, desulfurization, and isomerization. He has published over 1,200 research papers and holds more than 200 patents, with over 20 applied in industrial processes. Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2007, Avelino is widely recognized for his contributions to solid catalyst design and materials science. His current research focuses on the development of multifunctional solid catalysts for chemical and biomass transformations, with an emphasis on CO2 and H2O activation.
Abstract:
I will present how science and technology have sometimes produced collateral social and environmental problems. However, it is also science and technology which find solutions to the problems generated. I will show how the knowledge generated by fundamental research in chemistry and catalysis can be transferred to industry and contribute to creating a more sustainable world by developing chemical processes with better atom economy and lower residue formation while saving energy and natural resources. Finally, I will show potential solutions for decarbonization based on the development of catalysis and catalytic processes directed to avoid the use of fossil fuels, by using alternative renewable sources of carbon and H2 to produce fuels and chemicals.
Prof. James Durrant - Imperial College London
James Durrant is a Professor of Photochemistry at Imperial College London and Sêr Cymru Solar Professor at Swansea University. He earned his PhD in 1991 at Imperial College London, focusing on photosystem II spectroscopy. James' research centers on developing new chemical approaches to solar energy conversion, targeting solar electricity (photovoltaics) and molecular fuels like hydrogen. His group uses transient optical spectroscopies to study light-driven electron and energy transfer reactions, combining this with device development and functional characterisation across a range of molecular, polymeric, and inorganic materials. He also serves as Director of Imperial’s Centre for Processable Electronics and collaborates widely with academia and industry to drive innovation in renewable, low-cost energy technologies. James has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and the Learned Society of Wales.
Abstract:
Photocatalytic and electrocatalytic pathways to sustainable fuels and chemicals: insights into reaction kinetics from optical spectroscopy.
In this talk, I will explore the challenge of sustainably synthesising fuels and chemicals as part of the global shift toward a more sustainable energy system. Specifically, I will introduce photocatalytic, photoelectrode, and electrocatalytic pathways to generate sustainable fuels and chemicals, and discuss the use of transient optical spectroscopies to provide insight into both photocatalytic and electrocatalytic function, with a focus on splitting water to produce green hydrogen. The presentation will highlight the kinetic challenge of photocatalysis due to the mismatch between the fast timescales of photoexcitations and the slower timescales of chemical fuel synthesis, and contrast this with kinetic challenges in photovoltaic solar cells. I will give examples of photocatalytic approaches employing both organic and inorganic materials, including metal oxides and conjugated polymers and how transient optical spectroscopies can give insight into their function. Throughout, I will emphasise the role of transient optical spectroscopies in understanding these systems, particularly in water oxidation catalysis—a key bottleneck in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic processes. In particular, I will show, and discuss examples of, how operando spectroelectrochemistry provides valuable insights into materials design and function, which are often difficult to achieve from more widely employed electrochemical analyses.
Dr. Robert Pollice - University of Groningen
Robert Pollice earned his Bachelor in Technical Chemistry from TU Wien in 2013, followed by an Master in 2015 under the supervision of Professor Michael Schnürch, where he conducted mechanistic investigations of C-H activation reactions. He then pursued his Ph.D. at ETH Zürich in 2019 with Professor Peter Chen, focusing on London dispersion in molecular systems. After completing his doctorate, Robert joined the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik’s group, where he explored organic electronic materials, lab automation, and machine learning. Since August 2022, he has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen. His current research centers on the design of molecular catalysts for organic reactions, utilizing computational tools to simulate chemical processes. By integrating lab automation and data-driven algorithms into his workflow, Robert’s team accelerates the discovery of new catalysts through high-throughput experiments and artificial molecular design.
Abstract:
From Contemporary Computational Chemistry to Future Methods of Application
In the first half of my talk, I will speak about a project I had worked on during my PhD that aimed to uncover the origin of the immiscibility of alkanes and perfluoroalkanes. Perfluoroalkanes are widely used compounds and materials due to their unique properties. However, they have also entered public media as "forever chemicals" that are not only harmful to the environment but also toxic to humans. Due to the persistency and bioaccumulative properties, by now, they are present in the blood of the majority of people. Understanding their unique properties is the first step towards developing effective surrogate materials. In the second half of my talk, I will speak about research that is still ongoing in my group that aims to develop a customized large language model that can aid in performing quantum chemistry simulations and perhaps perform them autonomously in the future.
