Finlay Evans
PhD - Since October 2025
Previous: MChem - The University of Manchester
Current: PhD student - Sm(II) catalysis
Publications: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, 63, e202403477.
Funding: President's Award
Prizes: Sutherland Prize - best organic chemist in second year (2023), ICI Polymers Prize - best physical chemist third year (2024), RSC Undergraduate Research Bursary (2023), University of Manchester Undergraduate Research Award (2024).
Biography: I am a proud Bristolian and completed my Mchem degree at the University of Manchester in 2025. Following my second year of study, I undertook an RSC-funded internship with the Clayden group at the University of Bristol, developing a novel methodology for the defluorination of trifluoromethyl groups and applied it to the synthesis of non-canonical amino acids. During my third year of study, I worked with the Webb group on the synthesis of metalated steroids for synthetic signal transduction. I continued to work with the Webb group with a UoM-funded internship, investigating the catalytic properties of metalated Aib-foldamers with UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. I completed my Masters project in the Greaney group, developing a novel methodology for skeletal editing of pyridines and pyrimidines. My research in the Procter group concerns catalysis with samarium diiodide and light. In my free time, I enjoy running, cycling, climbing and learning German.
PhD - Since October 2025
Previous: MChem - The University of Manchester
Current: PhD student - Sm(II) catalysis
Publications: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, 63, e202403477.
Funding: President's Award
Prizes: Sutherland Prize - best organic chemist in second year (2023), ICI Polymers Prize - best physical chemist third year (2024), RSC Undergraduate Research Bursary (2023), University of Manchester Undergraduate Research Award (2024).
Biography: I am a proud Bristolian and completed my Mchem degree at the University of Manchester in 2025. Following my second year of study, I undertook an RSC-funded internship with the Clayden group at the University of Bristol, developing a novel methodology for the defluorination of trifluoromethyl groups and applied it to the synthesis of non-canonical amino acids. During my third year of study, I worked with the Webb group on the synthesis of metalated steroids for synthetic signal transduction. I continued to work with the Webb group with a UoM-funded internship, investigating the catalytic properties of metalated Aib-foldamers with UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. I completed my Masters project in the Greaney group, developing a novel methodology for skeletal editing of pyridines and pyrimidines. My research in the Procter group concerns catalysis with samarium diiodide and light. In my free time, I enjoy running, cycling, climbing and learning German.