Kylie Yang
Postdoc
Kylie received Honours with the University Medal in Chemistry at the University of Sydney, Australia in 2015. After this, she completed her PhD under the supervision of Elizabeth New. During this time, she explored the rational design of fluorescent tools for clinical applications and developed skills in fluorescence imaging, cell culture, microscopy, and organic synthesis. After completing her PhD in 2021 she then moved to UCL in February 2021 as a postdoctoral research assistant to work on stimuli-responsive supramolecular systems.
Outside the lab, Kylie enjoys vegan food, looking after houseplants and drawing & fundraising for wildlife charities through the selling her art online.
Hiral Kotak
PhD student
Hiral received a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Southampton Here, she undertook a final-year project involving synthetic organic electrochemistry with Richard Brown. She then completed an MRes in Organic Chemistry and Drug Discovery at UCL. Here, she worked with Kerstin Sander on synthesising and characterising radiotracer binding to brain tissues with Alzheimer's. Hiral’s PhD involves exploring supramolecular recognition of biomolecules using computational and experimental methods. She is currently focusing on the synthesis of a tripodal metal-organic chelator for anion binding.
Outside the lab, Hiral enjoys sewing and cooking vegan food, and is an avid animal lover.
Ana Leonescu
PhD student
Evelyn Morton
PhD student
Evie obtained her BSc in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh in 2019, before completing her MSc in Chemical research at UCL where her final year project focused on the synthesis of luciferin analogues for use in bioluminescence imaging under the supervision of Jim Anderson. Her current research focuses on host-guest chemistry, investigating the anion binding and transport properties of dual hydrogen bond donor receptors.
Outside of the lab, Evie enjoys playing netball, travelling and going to the theatre.
Ana obtained her BA and MSci in Physical Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge in 2021. As part of her Master’s thesis, she investigated the design and host-guest systems prediction of heteroleptic metal-organic cages working alongside Jack Davies and Prof. Jonathan Nitschke. Ana is currently completing her PhD as part of the EPSRC-UKRI DTP, being co-supervised by Cally Haynes and Ben Slater, where she is using both synthetical and computational approaches to investigate the solid state of metal-organic cages.
Outside of her academics, Ana is an active advocate for outreach and science communication, having been involved in several related projects, such as SoapBox Science in May 2022. In her spare time, she is a keen foodie looking for new things to try in London’s best spots, or enjoys a walk in the park (where she is beyond excited to look at the British fauna).
Oksana Kryshevich
MSci student
Oksana is a 4th year MSci Medicinal Chemistry student, currently undertaking her masters project. Her project involves the synthesis of ionophores and linking them to functional moieties such as fluorophores, solubilising groups and stimuli-responsive groups for various medical applications including cancer research.
Outside of academics, Oksana enjoys embroidery and nail art, has a profound love for animals (especially advocating for stray animals) and is an avid activist for Ukraine.
Imogen Turner
MSc student
Imogen obtained her BSc in Chemistry from the University of East Anglia in 2022. Under the supervision of Dr Rianne Lord, her final year project focused on synthesising vanadium complexes and how they could be used to treat breast cancer. She joined UCL in September to pursue a MSc in Chemical Research and her project will look at improving drug delivery and using ionophores as cytotoxic agents.
Outside of the lab, Imogen enjoys doing archery, going to the gym and exploring new places.
Past members
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Junyang Tan, MSc student - 2021 - 2022
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Yilin Liu, MRes student - 2021 - 2022
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Ethan Powell, MSci student - 2021 - 2022
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Hunaida Bhabha, MSc student - 2020 - 2021
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Yifan Long, MSc student - 2020 - 2021
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Yu Sun, MSc student - 2019-2020
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Hin Yuk Lai, MRes student - 2019-2020
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Denisa Bogdan, MSci student - 2019 -2020
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Vicky Barros Metlova, MSci student - 2019 - 2020