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Scherman Group Members
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Kamil Sokołowski (he/him)
PDRA in Energy
Kamil is interested in electron transfer processes on the molecular level and translation of these fundamental phenomena towards technologies related to energy conversion and storage. He explores new (supra) molecular and nanoparticulate systems to understand how energy can be transferred more efficiently. Outside the lab Kamil likes exploring mountains, coastlines, art, and music.
Dr Amrita Sidker (she/her)
PDRA in Biomaterials
Amrita is developing next generation local drug delivery systems for Glioblastoma treatment by co-formulating different high-capacity vehicles, such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs), polymer nanoparticles and mesoporous silica nanoparticles within dynamic supramolecular hydrogels. Outside of lab, she likes reading books and listening to music.
Dr Richard Tse (he/him)
PDRA in high performance materials
Richard is the Todd-Croucher Junior Research Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge. His primary research interest lies in the exploitation of mechanical bonds in molecular recognition and the development of smart functional materials.
Dr Chunxiang Wei (he/him)
PDRA in colloids
Chunxiang specializes in aqueous heterophase polymerisation, aiding the shift from solvent-borne polymers to water-borne polymers. Chungxiang leads supramolecular polymeric colloid research efforts in the group. He specifcally focuses on colloid photonic crystals and supramolecular microgels for drug delivery. Beyond research, he enjoys travel and reading.
Dr Yuanyuan Wei (she/her)
PDRA in high performance materials
Yuanyuan seeks to unlock the structure–mechanics–dynamics relationships in reconfigurable polymer networks from the molecular to macroscopic scale and explore their applications as sustainable materials. She has a specific interest in the dynamics and mechanics of soft materials alongside the development of bespoke optical experimental setups. Outside the lab, Yuanyuan enjoys traveling, hiking, and expressing herself through oil painting.
PhD Students
Xiaoyi Chen (he/him)
Final Year
Xiaoyi focuses on the advancement of host-guest chemistry, in particular CB[8]-enhanced polar-π interactions. Innovations include improved polymer networks, controlled peptide heterodimerisation, and precise molecular design. These findings have applications in bioelectronics and biopharmaceuticals.
Saif Baquain (he/him)
Final Year
Saif works on the development of hydrogels and seeks to utilise these drug delivery platforms to treat cancers, with a special interest in brain tumours. He focuses on the loading and optimising the release of loaded cargo from hydrogels. Outside the lab Saif enjoys playing tennis and watching movies.
Olivia Dovernor (she/her)
Final Year
Olivia's research focuses on investigating heterogeneity within hydrogel materials through single molecule tracking. She works in collaboration with the Lee Lab. She is interested in understanding the diffusion of various probes in porous materials for wide ranging applications. Outside of the lab, she is involved in Entrepreneurship and is the President of the JEC at St Johns College
Stephen O'Neill (he/him)
Final Year
Stephen received his MEng from the University of Edinburgh, conducting his thesis project at Stanford University developing novel organic electronic materials. As a PhD student, Stephen is working on synthesising conductive polymer networks for bioelectronic applications, in a collaboration with Prof. George Malliaras in the Department of Engineering.
Mark Carrington (he/him)
Final Year
Mark is a joint PhD student between Prof Scherman and Prof Dame Clare Grey and part of the EPSRC NanoDTC Programme. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford and master’s degree from Cambridge. For his PhD project, Mark is working on the application of organic, redox active molecules developed within the Scherman group towards battery storage applications. His work involves the use of experimental and theoretical techniques with the aim of achieving grid-scale energy storage.
Claire Fuller (she/her)
3rd Year
Claire is a member of the 2021 SynTech CDT cohort. Her PhD research focuses on optimising the synthesis of guest molecules and investigating their electronic properties when captured in supramolecular host-guest complexes. Applications of these complexes include fluorescence sensing, catalysis, and energy storage. In her free time, Claire likes hiking through mountainous landscapes, drawing, and eating new foods, and her most recent endeavour is to learn how to crochet.
Hannah-Marie Lockett (she/her)
3rd Year
Hannah is exploring the uses of photoactive colloidal nanosystems in triplet energy transfer catalysis. Hannah completed her Master’s degree in the group and won the 2021 Outstanding Thesis Prize. Hannah was awarded the Walter’s Kundert PhD Scholarship from Selwyn College as well as industrial funding from Cambridge Display Technology to fund her PhD.
Jihan Zaki (he/him)
2nd Year
Jihan explores the intersection of chemistry, biology and AI with the supervision of Professors Oren Scherman, and Sabine Bahn. Focused on psychiatric diagnostics, Jihan's research employs AI to develop innovative diagnostic tools in combination with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. An avid film photographer, Jihan also seeks creative inspiration outside the lab.
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Natalie Potter (she/her)
2nd Year
Natalie's research focuses on developing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy-active hybrid materials for sensing and drug delivery applications. When she’s not in the lab you can often find her on the River Cam rowing for her College.
Elena Wanvig Dot (she/her)
1st Year
Elena is a Swiss national who completed her BA at Cornell University where she conducted research in biophysics and protein chemistry under Dr. Joshua Chappie. The goal of her PhD is to design and characterise customisable and modular hydrogel polymers with applications in drug delivery and beyond.
Supissra (Pim) Boon-In (she/her)
Visiting PhD Student
Supissra is a visiting PhD student from Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Thailand. Her research focuses on the development of functional hydrogels for biomedical applications. She works on developing new approaches for tough supramolecular hydrogels. Outside of the lab, Supissra loves singing and playing basketball.
Natalia Sanchez Moreno (she/her)
Visiting PhD Student
Natalia is a visiting PhD student from Brazil. Her background and expertise lies within the design and synthesis of various nanoparticles and their surface functionalisation. Here, Natalia is working on a project in collaboration with Prof Ljiljana Fruk on magnetic nanoparticles for capture of circulting DNA linked to Glioblastoma brain cancer.
MPhil Students
Yingjie Chen (he/him)
MPhil 2024
Yingjie is working on the formation of thermoresponsive dynamic hydrogels. He aims to study the impact of temperature and time on the dynamics occuring within these dynamic CB[n]-based hydrogels.
Research Assistants
Veronique Botrugno (she/her)
RA in Biomaterials
Veronique is involved in the clinical translation of dynamic hydrogels for local drug delivery. She is working on the development of new strategies to deliver drugs in a controlled manner from hydrogel materials. Outside of the lab, Veronique enjoys staying active through playing various sports.
Diego Oviedo Chavez (he/him)
RA in Biomaterials
Diego works on the clinical translation of supramolecular dynamic hydrogels for local drug delivery. He seeking to bring the next generation of therapeutics to everyday life. Besides feeling the rush of science, he enjoys bouldering, hiking, and visiting visual art exhibitions.
Part III students
Tim Andrew (he/him)
Part III student
Jesus College
Tim is looking at novel ways to synthesise supramolecular polymers through the use of non-covalent interactions, with the aim of developing materials with unprecedented strength and molecular weight. Outside of the lab he enjoys playing rugby and frequently represents the university.
Cameron Jones (he/him)
Part III Student
Cameron is working on aqueous energy transfer photocatalysis using colloidal hybrid nanostructures. He is exploring the substrate scope tolerance of the chemistry and seeking to identify new synthetic targets.
Xinyue (Lily) Wang (she/her)
Part III Student
Lily is exploring new mechanistic approaches towards the synthesis of fluorescent guest moieties for CB[n] macrocycles. She is exploring their synthesis and subsequently evaluating their photophysical properties in the presence of CB[n].
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