I study real life magic and modern day alchemy. I am constantly learning and evolving as science and technology changes around me, and I am always looking to contribute positively to human development.
More about me
Hi, I'm Richard, and welcome to my portfolio website.
Currently, I am studying Chemistry with Biological and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sheffield (UoS), and I am a member of the Coldham group.
Outside the lab, I have an interest in home science, chemical education and helping people fall in love with science. I also have a passion for learning new skills that interest me, like coding, and 3D printing and design.
This year, I am working on my MChem research project with the Coldham group. I am improving the current work done by the group, using a cycloadditon-cyclisation cascade in the syntheses of alkaloids but with a secondary electrophilic centre. This will later be applied to the synthesis of alstonisine, an alkaloid present in the tree bark of Alstonia plants, which has been used in traditional medicine to treat malaria for centuries.
I've been fortunate enough to receive funding for two summer research projects, both with the Partridge group at UoS.
The first was funded by the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience scheme, and involved the synthesis of a boronic acid-functionalised cyanine 3 dye which would be used to enhance the detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans, a bacterium that causes Buruli ulcer.1
During this project I created a video describing for the Partridge group, describing their method for an improved Chan-Lam reaction where alkylboryl compounds can be used.2
The second was funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and I helped develop a method for the synthesis of borylated N-heterocycles.3
I have built a DIY NMR spectrometer, based on designs created by Michal et al.4
I designed and carried out an experiment where I extracted capsaicinoids from different chilli peppers and empirically normalised the subjective scoville scale with concentration of capsaicinoids by mass.
For fun, I'm an avid guitarist who is focussed on jazz music - I've been a band coordinator for the Friday Night Jazz ensemble, where I organised gigs, advertising and public outreach, and music and rehearsals. I also organise gigs and perform for my own band, Katsina, as well as finances and advertising. Throughout my time at university, I have played for the auditioned Sheffield University Big Band (SUBB).
I also love the outdoors, and spend a lot of time in the nearby peak district. I'm an avid hiker, wild swimmer and water sports enthusiast.