Dr Jennifer Garden MRSC

Winner: 2021 Dalton Division early career award: Sir Edward Frankland Fellowship

University of Edinburgh

For contributions to the advancements in homo- and hetero-metallic catalysis for sustainable polymerisation chemistry.

Celebrate Dr Jennifer Garden

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There are roles for everyone in science, and chemistry opens doors to lots of different opportunities.

There is an urgent need to rethink the way in which we interact with plastics, and to develop sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. The Garden Group's research focuses on producing degradable plastics from renewable sources. This work is underpinned by developing new catalysts that can improve the efficiency of these processes.

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Dr Jennifer Garden received her MSci (1st Class Honours, 2010) and PhD (2014) from the University of Strathclyde, the latter under the direction of Professor Robert Mulvey. Her PhD research dealt with the design, synthesis, characterisation and reaction chemistry of new zinc and zincate complexes. This was followed by two years as a postdoctoral researcher in Professor Charlotte Williams' group at Imperial College London, where she developed heterometallic catalysts for carbon dioxide/epoxide copolymerisation.

In 2016, Jennifer moved to the University of Edinburgh as the first recipient of the Christina Miller Research Fellowship, which was followed by a Ramsay Memorial Trust Fellowship and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. Her research combines different fields of chemistry including organometallic synthesis, catalyst development and sustainable polymer materials.

The Garden Group's research focuses on the design of synergic heterometallic catalysts that display enhanced activities and selectivities compared to the homometallic analogues, and the application of these systems to the polymerisation of renewable monomers. Jennifer’s work has been recognised by the L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science UK & Ireland Fellowship (2019), the Macro Group UK Young Researchers Medal (2019), and the L’Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talents Award (2020). She currently sits on the editorial advisory board of Macromolecules (ACS).

Q+A

Who or what has inspired you?

I have been extremely fortunate to work with inspirational scientists throughout my career, who have been incredibly supportive and encouraging. There are far too many people to name everyone individually but I have been especially inspired by my Strathclyde family (Professor Robert Mulvey, Professor Eva Hevia, Dr Charles O’Hara and Dr Stuart Robertson) and my postdoctoral supervisor, Professor Charlotte Williams. Professor Michael Shaver has been a fantastic mentor, as have the whole chemistry community at the University of Edinburgh. My research team inspire me daily with their enthusiasm, enjoyment and creativity.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

If you think you will enjoy it then go for it! Chemistry has a major role to play in tackling key challenges that society is facing. It offers a unique opportunity to learn how to problem-solve at the molecular level, as well as the ability to see the bigger picture. There are roles for everyone in science, and chemistry opens doors to lots of different opportunities. Speak to people to seek advice and don’t be afraid to try for things that you might think are beyond you!

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

I strongly believe that science is strengthened by diverse perspectives. By having a supportive environment, where everyone’s voice is heard, different approaches, ideas and questions emerge, which ultimately allows us to see challenges from a broader perspective and to come up with more creative solutions. Science is essential for tackling important global issues, such as plastic pollution. These complex challenges often require interdisciplinary solutions as well as excellence in individual research fields.

What is your favourite element?

I have worked closely with zinc throughout my research career, from my undergraduate Carnegie Vacation Scholarship, through my PhD and postdoctoral research, to the most recent research publication. Due to its position in the periodic table, zinc has a dual identity, and can perform transformations that are typically in the domain of main group metals, as well as catalytic transformations often performed by transition metals. Pairing zinc with a heterometal can also modulate the reactivity, which opens up a whole new suite of exciting chemistry for this element!