Current Members
Group Leader
Prof. Rachel O'Reilly MBE FRS
Office: Aston Webb
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about Rachel.
Post-Doctoral Researchers
Lucy Arkinstall
Lucy completed her Masters in Chemistry at Durham University and obtained her PhD in Chemistry in 2020 under the supervision of Professor Rachel O’Reilly at the University of Birmingham. Her work focused on utilising metathesis to expand the reaction scope of DNA nanotechnology. She remained at the University of Birmingham for 3 years, as a Research fellow, working across the School of Chemical Engineering and Healthcare Technologies Institute under the supervision of Professor Anthony Metcalfe and Dr Sophie Cox. Lucy then spent 2 years out in Industry working for a sustainable packaging company managing the technical department. In 2026, Lucy returned to the group working across the groups of both Professor Rachel O’Reilly and Professor Andrew Dove to support their research activities.
Email: [email protected]
Tianlai Xia
Tianlai received his BSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Anhui University of Technology in 2018. He completed his MRes and PhD in Chemistry at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof. Rachel O’Reilly and Prof. Andrew Dove. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Rachel O’Reilly’s group, focusing on nanoparticle engineering via crystallization-driven self-assembly.
Email: [email protected]
PhD Students
Final Year
RACHEL STRACEY
Lancastrian Rachel studies Chemistry to contribute to a sustainable future through the development of new materials. She graduated with a Master of Chemistry from the University of York – her Master’s research project was completed in Prof. Duncan Bruce’s group and was titled: “An investigation into the introduction of perfluorinated chains into the structure of discotic luminescent gold(III) complexes and their effects on mesophase behaviour”. Rachel joined the O’Reilly Group in June 2021 to research crystalline-driven self-assembly and fluorescent barcoding.
Email: [email protected]
Megan Elliott
Megan has lived in the UK, and the US – in North Carolina, California and New Jersey. At the University of York she earned a BSc in Chemistry, and an MSc in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology, with a thesis entitled 'Preparation of Non-Polar Lubricant Additives by Aza-Michael Modification of Bio-based Unsaturated Polyesters'.
Email: [email protected]
2nd Year
Kexin Pan
Kexin is earning her PhD jointly with the Stavros Group. She earned her Master’s degree in Chemistry at Beijing University of Chemical Technology with a thesis entitled The Design and Application of a Novel Fluorescent Probe Containing Unsaturated Imine Ring Structure. Alongside computational chemistry, Kexin has also studied projects involving: fluorescent molecules based on benzimidazole; boosting responses of fluorescent imaging probes toward sulfur dioxide; and fluorescent probes for detecting human serum albumin and glutathione. Kexin enjoys jogging, hiking and playing badminton.
Email: [email protected]
Group Support
TESSA KINTAIL
Tessa has provided dedicated admin support for the O’Reilly group since 2018, and prior to joining the University of Birmingham she spent 22 years working in major gift fundraising research. Tessa has two bachelor’s degrees: in Biology & Environmental Biology; and in Religion, Philosophy and Economics – and she earned a Masters by Research in Islamic Studies in 2017. She enjoys gardening, walking, 熱茶, and studying: she has just started learning Python and Mandarin.
Email: [email protected]