Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRAs)

Kristian completed his PhD under the joint supervision of Prof. Claire Carmalt and Dr Caroline Knapp at University College London, where he developed organometallic precursors towards group 13 oxide materials. He then moved to California to work with Prof. Phil P. Power FRS, where he investigated the reactivity of low oxidation state main group compounds, stabilized by dispersion-energy donor ligands. Kristian is currently researching the synthesis of organometallic cobalt catalysts for CO2 polymerization.

Victor studied Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza (B.Sc. 2017) in Spain completing his final year in Heidelberg, Germany, as an Erasmus student. After that, he obtained an M.Res. degree in Molecular Science and Engineering from Imperial College London, UK (2018). He then moved to the University of Cambridge, UK where he completed his Ph.D. (2023) in the groups of prof. Dominic S. Wright and prof. Clare P. Grey. His research there focused on the synthesis of heterobimetallic alkoxide precursors for the solution deposition of metal oxide coatings onto electrode materials for Li-ion batteries and photoelectrocatalysis. He also studied the effect of those coatings on the performance of the materials and their electrochemical lifetime. Victor joined the Williams group at the University of Oxford in May 2023 as a postdoctoral researcher to develop polymer electrolyte binders for solid-state batteries as part of the Faraday Institution SOLBAT project.

Nora graduated from the University of Hamburg (Germany) in 2019. In 2023 she completed her PhD in the field of homogeneous catalysis at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock (Germany) under the supervision of Prof. Detlef Heller. Her thesis focused on the mechanistic investigation of various rhodium complex-catalysed reactions. Nora joined the Williams group in May 2023 and is working on the synthesis and characterisation of heterodinuclear complexes for the ring-opening copolymerisation of epoxides and anhydrides.

Diego grew up in Cuernavaca, Mexico and obtained his BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. In 2018, he obtained his PhD degree in the group of Prof. Ian Manners at the University of Bristol, UK (funded by CONACyT) focusing in the synthesis of main-group macromolecules by metal-catalysed dehydropolymerisation. In 2019, Diego started a postdoctoral position in the group of Prof. Frederik Wurm, first at the Max-Plank Institute for Polymers in Mainz, Germany (working in the development of flame-retardant phosphorus-containing polyols in collaboration with BASF); and then, at the University of Twente in The Netherlands (investigating the formation of block copolymers based on polyphosphonates by ring-opening, radical and metathesis polymerization). In January 2022, he joined the group of Prof. Charlotte Williams at the University of Oxford, UK where he will participate in the development of sustainable and degradable polymers within the Unilever's Clean Future project.

Thom studied for his MChem at the University of Edinburgh. He then moved to the University of Bath to complete his PhD under the supervision of Antoine Buchard. During his PhD, he studied the impact of stereochemistry on the properties of sugar-derived polymers. Alongside his PhD, Thom completed a short JSPS research fellowship at Nagoya University in Japan, working for Professor Masami Kamigaito. Thom is now researching the depolymerization of polycarbonates and polyesters.

Greg completed his PhD in the Williams group in 2021. His research into CO2 utilization in oxygenated block polymers focussed on aspects of catalyst development as well as the synthesis of functional polymer materials, targeting high-performance plastics, elastomers, and adhesives. He is now investigating sustainable polymer-biopolymer hybrid materials in a collaborative project as part of iCAST (Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies).