Our research is interested in the application of biological architecture to the design of transition-metal catalysts, to develop highly selective catalysts for ‘unnatural’ reactions such as direct C-H amination. We are fascinated by the opportunities that artificial metalloenzymes offer in terms of enhancing selectivity and reactivity of reactions, whilst also offering routes towards more sustainable chemistry. The long terms aims of the group are to develop more sustainable catalytic chemistry, either using more abundant and easily accessible metals or improving the atom efficiency of the overall organic transformations by going towards the activation of small molecules - CO, nitrogen, ammonia.
We are interested in obtaining a well-rounded understanding of the catalysts and their reactions, and thus study catalyst development from a number of different perspectives such as enzyme engineering, inorganic/organometallic catalyst development and the application of these catalysis in chemical synthesis.
NEWS
20th September 2021
Farewells and New Arrivals
Over the last few months we have had a number of farewells and new arrivals. We have waved goodbye to Dr Richard Brewster, the postdoc that helped set up the lab, as well as this years crop of project students - Irati, George, Jessie and Yueming. We wish them all well in their future endeavours. At the same time a number of new faces have joined the group. Hafiz Ali and Catherine have joined as postdocs, Xinyue as a 1st year PhD student and Anette and Botond as undergraduate project students. A warm welcome to them all.
30th March 2021
Have chemists struck gold with Artificial metalloenzymes?
Read Amanda's News and Views article in Nature Catalysis to find out more about the latest work from the Ward group.
30th March 2021
PhD position working on artificial metalloenzymes available
Deadline: 17th May
PhD studentship (42months), School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh.
Combining Artificial Metalloenzymes and Biosyngas production for Next-Generation Catalytic Hydroformylation.
Supervisors: Dr Amanda Jarvis and Dr Stephen Wallace, suppoerted by Johnson Matthey. Open to UK students. For more information and details oin how to apply see HERE.
30th March 2021
Synthetic Biology PDRA position available
Deadline extended: 23rd April
We are seeking a synthetic biologist/pathway engineer or biochemist to join the group to work on a UK Catalysis Hub funded project in collaboration with the Wallace group in Edinburgh looking at developing designer microbes for biosyngas production.To apply and for further details see: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/745
7th January 2021
Welcome to new PhD student, Isabeau
Isabeau joins the group to work on the development of artificial metalloenzymes for fluorination.
29th December 2020
Postdoctoral and PhD positions available
We are seeking to expand the group by recruiting a PDRA to work on the modelling and in silico design of our artificial metalloenzymes directly alongside experimentalists, and in collaboration with existing computational collaborators, Dr Antonia Mey, Dr Chris Wells-Wood, and Professor Adrian Mulholland. The ideal applicant would be someone willing to take a leading role in developing the computational expertise in the group and interested in working closely with experimentalists. For more information and details on how to apply see here. Deadline 25th January 2021.
We are also looking for PhD candidates, with a position through the NERC E4 DTP currently advertised (deadline 7th January) and more to come so look out for future adverts here.
29th December 2020
Read the group's first review on palladium in biological media
Excited to annouce the first paper from Richard and Eva in our group. Their lockdown review looking at how palladium has been used in biological media is out now in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.
24th September 2020
The latest University of Edinburgh science magazine is out now focusing on Sustainability
Check out the contribuition from group member Eva on enzymes.
5th August 2020
Read our recent review on artificial enzymes and synthetic biology
A. G. Jarvis, Designer metalloenzymes for synthetic biology: Enzyme hybrids for catalysis, Curr. Opin Chem. Biol. 2020.
1st Jan 2020
Awarded the ASCUS ScotCHEM artist's commission
In collaboration with Honza Turnovsky, Amanda has been awarded one of the ASCUS-ScotChem art/science commissions that will see Honza create a series of work based on the science of the group. More details here.
25th Oct 2019
Success in writing competition
Well done to Eva, who received SCI membership for her essay on the group's work. See here for her article.