Dom graduated with a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Bristol in 2018, during which he undertook projects on computational chemistry (Prof. Fred Manby) and gold catalysis (Dr Chris Russell). He then undertook a PhD at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Prof. Stephen Thomas on group 13 exchange in catalysis. After graduating in 2022, he took up a postdoctoral with Prof. Lee Cronin at the University of Glasgow working on the automation of air- and moisture-sensitive chemistry, while also serving as leader of the Materials Discovery team. In 2023 he undertook a second postdoctoral position with Prof. Michael Ingleson at the University of Edinburgh, where he focussed on boron-mediated fluorination and computational chemistry. He was appointed as assistant professor of automation at Heriot-Watt University in 2024, where he explores ways to exploit automation and digital technologies to accelerate chemical discovery. Outside of work he gets little coffees and walks around Edinburgh with his partner Charlotte. He also climbs, cycles, and plays keyboard in a band while trying not to get scratched by his two cats (Beansprout and Parsnip).

Josef completed his undergraduate MChem degree at Lancaster University in 2025. During his time at Lancaster, he engaged in a research project with Dr Nicholas Evans and Dr Rebecca Spicer focusing on the self-assembly of pyridyl coordination capsules. Josef then undertook a joint project between Dr Jamie Docherty and Dr Rachel Platel for his MChem, investigating catalytic methods towards alkene hydroamination for the synthesis of complex amines. Josef moved to Heriot-Watt University and joined the Willcox group in 2025 to undertake his PhD, aiming to explore synthetic methodologies towards silicon-switch molecules. In his spare time, Josef enjoys playing cricket, darts, and swimming.

Lewis is currently completing his integrated masters at Heriot-Watt University. He is interested in studying organic chemistry and computational chemistry, with particular interests in synthetic methodologies. Lewis joined the Willcox group as a Carnegie summer project student to computationally study the reactivity of ambiphilic silanes. In his spare time, Lewis enjoys cooking to relax and is an active gym goer and guitar player. 

Alice is an international student from France currently undertaking a summer internship at Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with Dr Liam Donnelly. She joined the engineering school SIGMA Clermont in 2024 to study organic chemistry and has recently completed her second year. During her four-month internship, Alice is working on the development of skeletal editing reactions for nitrogen insertion. Through this project, she aims to deepen her knowledge of modern synthetic chemistry, which has applications in the pharmaceutical field. Next year, she plans to undertake a one-year training programme at the University of Clermont-Ferrand focused on pharmaceutical processes, allowing her to further specialise in pharmaceutical chemistry in line with her career goals.

Originally from Edinburgh, Beansprout (Sprout) has never read Clayden and doesn’t want to learn any named reactions. He spends all day thinking about how to finally get that pigeon that sits on the roof of the house opposite. Once he stole a whole chicken thigh off the kitchen counter and wonders what could have been if he wasn’t caught.

Originally from Roslin, Parsnip (Snip) likes to talk about chemistry all day but sadly nobody can understand her contributions. A chronic in-the-way-aholic, Snip’s hobbies include sitting on top of doors and walking around on the floor with the lights off.