XClose

Chemistry

Home
Menu

Research

The Department of Chemistry at University College London is one of the top chemistry departments in the UK, with over 50 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research. We specialise in the areas of organic synthesis, chemical biology, computational chemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic and materials chemistry, and physical chemistry and chemical physics.

The Department of Chemistry at University College London is one of the top chemistry departments in the UK, with over 50 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research. We specialise in the areas of organic synthesis, chemical biology, computational chemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic and materials chemistry, and physical chemistry and chemical physics.

Research Themes

Chemical Sustainability

Sustainable chemical approaches to the production of new and existing chemical products and materials is of crucial importance world-wide over the next decades. At UCL we are pioneering novel green chemistry strategies for molecular assembly and materials construction.

Read more here: Chemical Sustainability

Materials for the Future

The design of new materials will be key for solving important challenges related to the generation and storage of clean energy, the environmentally-friendly production of chemicals, and the manufacturing of new electronic components and sensors. 

Read more here: Materials for the Future

Chemistry for Life

Chemistry is the very essence of life and can help us live better and more sustainable lives. Chemistry and Chemical approaches can help us understand how life started, how life evolves and how life adapts. 

Read more here: Chemistry for Life

Chemistry and Light

Light is essential for life. For example, light is key to photosynthesis and vision. Light is also important in technology, such as in nanoscale optoelectronic devices.

Read more here: Chemistry and Light

Chemistry and the Environment

Chemistry can help us to understand, monitor, protect and improve the environment around us. Many environmental problems and processes are chemical, and to understand them requires knowledge of the fundamental chemistry involved. At UCL Chemistry we focus on development of new tools and methods for probing the environment in its natural and perturbed state, including under extreme terrestrial and extra-terrestrial conditions.

Read more here: Chemistry and the Environment

Chemistry Education

Chemistry Education Research investigates how people learn Chemistry. Exploring how to embed general pedagogical research concepts in chemistry education.

Read More Here: Chemistry Education

Research Sections

Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics 

Section Head: Prof Graham A. Worth

Research in physical chemistry at UCL employs a wide range of experimental measurement methods and theoretical calculations that include uisng lasers, x-rays, neutrons, ion beams, scanning probes and computational chemistry to measure and calculate chemical, physical and biological properties of molecules to understand the relationship between molecular structure and function. Much of our research is aligned with the EPSRC priority areas of healthcare, sustainable energy, novel quantum technologies and advanced materials.

Many research groups collaborate extensively with each other, with academics from other research groupings within chemistry, with groups from other departments and faculties within UCL and outside UCL.
The following academics belong to this research group:

  • Dr. Matthew Blunt
  • Dr Guido Bolognesi
  • Prof. Daren J. Caruana
  • Dr. Tracey Clarke
  • Prof. Peter V. Coveney
  • Prof. Helen H. Fielding
  • Prof. Francesco L. Gervasio
  • Prof. Katherine B. Holt 
  • Dr Rebecca Ingle
  • Prof. Sarah (Sally) L. Price FRS
  • Dr. David M. Rowley 
  • Prof. Christoph G. Salzmann 
  • Dr Sabrina Simoncelli
  • Prof. Geoff Thornton
  • Dr. Giorgio Volpe
  • Prof. Andrew S. Wills
  • Prof. Scott M. Woodley
Computational Chemistry

Section Head: Professor Graham Worth

UCL's computational chemists work closely with experimentalists to provide atomic or electronic level insights into a wide range of molecules, in isolation, complexes or condensed phases. This involves developing computational chemistry methodology and expanding the scale and efficiency to provide realistic simulations.
Below are the academics working within this research group:

  • Dr. Robert G. Bell
  • Prof. Richard R. A. Catlow
  • Prof. Furio Cora
  • Prof. Peter V. Coveney
  • Dr Rachel Crespo-Otero
  • Dr. Dewi W. Lewis
  • Prof. Sarah (Sally) L. Price FRS
  • Prof. Ben Slater
  • Prof. Scott M. Woodley
  • Prof. Graham Worth
  • Prof Martijn Zwijnenburg
     
Materials and Inorganic Chemistry

Section Head: Prof. Furio Cora

This section is concerned with the synthesis, characterisation and functional properties of inorganic complexes and materials. It has a particular emphasis on solid state-chemistry, synchrotron studies and understanding material properties through computational work. It is very skilled in high pressure and thin film work. It also has interests in crystallography (powders and single crystals), polymorphism, preparation of catalysts, hydrogen storage medium, combinatorial materials science, metal enzyme mimics, bone structure, supercritical fluids, molecular precursors and chemical vapour deposition.
The following academics belong to this research group:

  • Prof. Andrew Beale
  • Dr. Robert G. Bell
  • Prof. Chris Blackman
  • Dr Keith Butler
  • Prof. Claire J. Carmalt
  • Prof. Richard R. A. Catlow
  • Prof. Furio Cora
  • Prof. Jawwad A. Darr
  • Dr. Caroline E. Knapp
  • Prof. Ivan P. Parkin
  • Dr. Robert Palgrave
  • Dr Anna Regoutz
  • Prof. Gopinathan Sankar
  • Prof. Andrea Sella
  • Dr Yang Xu
  • Dr Martijn Zwijnenburg
     
Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Section Head: Prof. Tom Sheppard

The Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology section is engaged in a variety of research activities that are underpinned by organic synthesis. Research activities cover a broad range of topics from the development of new reaction methodologies and catalysts, target asymmetric synthesis of molecules with profound biological activity, through to peptide, protein and DNA chemistry, radiochemistry and molecule imaging, single molecule detection, mass spectrometry, bionanotechnology, biocatalysis, chemical genetics and directed evolution. In much of this work interactions with biology and medicine is vital and a number of exciting projects are developing new therapeutics for treatment of a variety of diseases including infection, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Activities in the areas of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry are coordinated through the Centre for Chemical Biology.

The section is supported by grants from EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, The Simons Foundation (New York), Leverhulme Trust and Industry. 
Below are the academics working within this research group:

  • Dr James Attwater
  • Prof. Erik Arstad
  • Dr. Jamie R. Baker
  • Dr Michael Booth
  • Dr. Kreso Bucar
  • Dr Daniele Castagnolo
  • Prof. Vijay Chudasama
  • Prof. Helen C. Hailes
  • Dr Cally Haynes
  • Prof. Stefan Howorka
  • Dr Roopender Kumar
  • Dr. Derek MacMillan
  • Prof. Michael Porter
  • Prof. Matthew Powner
  • Dr. Kerstin Sander
  • Dr. Bob Schroeder
  • Prof. Tom Sheppard
  • Prof. Alethea B. Tabor

    Resources

    The Institutional Research Information System (IRIS) is the research portal for UCL

    Explore the unique scale and diversity of UCL research publications in UCL Discovery

    Chemistry Research Administrators
    Email: research.chem@ucl.ac.uk