CheM62 Research Network Meeting, Liverpool, July 2018
The CheM62 Research network comprises a distinctive group of scientists from ‘Northern Powerhouse’ universities, with skills and expertise in chemical synthesis, catalysis, biocatalysis and chemical processing, working collaboratively with scientists from industrial laboratories. Liverpool ChiroChem and the University of Liverpool, Department of Chemistry sponsored the latest meeting of the CheM62 Research Network, held at Liverpool University on 18th July. Talented research students Robert Nixon (Manchester) and Claudia Gatti (Liverpool) were awarded prizes for best presentation and best flash poster at the meeting and Paul Colbon, CEO of Liverpool ChiroChem, who generously sponsored the prizes, presented them (see picture above). This marked a milestone in the development of the Network, as Liverpool ChiroChem is a company founded by two former Liverpool research students and a PDRA, Jianjun Wu, Paul Colbon and Jiwu Ruan, who were trained in the early days of cross company networking that led to the current CheM62 Network.
In the Network, research students and early career researchers gain an enhanced level of training through the experience of working in an environment where ideas, results and knowledge are shared freely. Six monthly Network Meetings provide opportunities for them to present their results and get feedback to help them develop their capabilities and career plans.
The July meeting was attended by 60 researchers from Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Huddersfield universities and from companies both large and small: AstraZeneca, Syngenta, Yprotech, Liverpool ChiroChem, Unilever, RedAg and Cadence Pharma. The morning session was a workshop on catalysis in industry with 4 expert contributors comparing the challenges of employing catalysis in the pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and consumer products industries. Then it was the turn of the research students to present their work, firstly through flash poster presentations, followed by 6 short oral presentations in the afternoon session. The meeting culminated with a lively panel discussion focused on providing students with advice on how to develop a post PhD career.