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On the 16th February 2015 Manuel Abelairas-Edesa became Dr Manuel when he successfully defended his thesis under the examination of Professor Paul Kamer from St. Andrews and Dr Andrew Pike (NU). His research was focused on the synthesis, air-stability and reactivity of bidentate primary phosphines.

Manuel first joined the group as an Erasmus student from the University of Santiago de Compostela, before returning to Newcastle to commence his PhD the following year.

Many congratulations/felicitaciones!

Jenny gave a lecture on her Fluorescent Bodipy Phosphine research following an introduction by Bob Redfern (Managing Director) of High Force Research Ltd at the June EngD conference, hosted by the Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing Technology Centre. A meal at St James’ Park was a welcome reward.

There was thankfully no ‘Mayday’ for Dr Sibbald, as Connor successfully defended his PhD thesis under examination by Prof Eva Hey-Hawkins (Leipzig). Thanks to Dr John Errington for his role as Internal Examiner. Connor now works for Johnson Matthey, Billingham on catalytic research.

Lee, Jenny and James made the trip to Dallas for the 2014 Spring ACS, and followed this up with a visit to our collaborators at UNLV, stopping along the way at The Grand Canyon so that James could look at a cactus.

Congrats to Jenny who passed her EPSRC-sponsored MPhil viva in December on ‘Highly Fluorescent Phosphines Based on the Bodipy Scaffold’. This research was funded by a Knowledge Transfer Award with High Force Research: http://www.highforceresearch.com/ Thanks to Dr Jason Lynam (York) for his role as External Examiner, and our own Dr Andrew Pike for his work as Internal Examiner.

Jenny continues her work with the group as an EngD student, co-sponsored once again by the generosity of High Force Research and the EPSRC.