One of the RSC Organic Division’s flagship events, the competitive poster symposium brings together outstanding organic chemistry PhD students from across the UK and Ireland to present their work to invited representatives from industry and academia. Prizes are awarded to the best posters including an Industry Prize awarded to the best research poster showcasing potential for industrial application.
The 2019 Organic Division Poster Symposium was held at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London on 2nd December.
Attended by 100 delegates, the symposium was an inspirational environment for the 40 exceptional PhD students to discuss their work. Each student gave a minute flash talk and presented their posters to the judging panel, Professor Stephen Caddick (Wellcome Trust), Professor John Murphy (University of Strathclyde) and Dr Matilda Bingham (Concept Life Sciences).
The prize for best poster was awarded to Harvey Dale (University of Edinburgh), for his research on taming ambident triazolate anions. The two runner-up prizes were awarded Joseph Barker (University of Bristol) for his work on interdisciplinary investigations into the biocatalytic creation of oxygen heterocycles in mupirocin biosynthesis; and Helen Jones (University of Edinburgh), for her work on new concepts in asymmetric synthesis.
The industry Prize, selected by industry representatives at the meeting, was awarded to Rhydian Beddoe (University of Nottingham) for the development of an organocatalytic Mitsunobu reaction. The participants prize, selected by the poster presenters, was awarded to Peter Clark, (University of Strathclyde/GlaxoSmithKline) for work on chemoselective, regiospecific, metal, azide and halogen free synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles.
The Organic Division would like to thank our generous industry sponsors including AstraZeneca, Charles River, Concept Life Sciences, Evotec, GSK, MSD, UCB and Vertex. And of course, we are very grateful to Roche, our headline sponsor of the event for the past 8 years.
Caring Responsibilities
Grants for carers have been introduced following the Royal Society of Chemistry Breaking the barriers report where 78% of chemists working in UK academia felt that managing parenting and/or caring responsibilities has an impact on women’s retention and progression. This fund is not limited to women scientists and welcomes applications from anyone with caring responsibilities, for more information please refer to the ‘bursaries’ section on this page.