Current Members
Group Leader
Prof. Rachel O'Reilly MBE FRS
Office: Aston Webb
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about Rachel.
Post-Doctoral Researchers
Josh Tibbetts
Josh joined the O’Reilly group in November 2023, to work on the EPSRC molecular technology project entitled ‘An Artificial Ribosome’, which aims to develop responsive DNA machines. Josh earned his MSci from the University of Cambridge, and his PhD at the University of Bath’s Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies, working with Professor Steve Bull. Josh was latterly a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Bath, working on photocatalysis and amine functionalisation. He enjoys attending live music gigs, as well as collecting & listening to vinyl records.
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]
PHILLIPPA EDGE
Phillippa has lived in Bedford, Cambridge, and Durham, where she earned her MChem. Her Masters Project took place in the Functional Surface Research group, and was based around metal-organic frameworks and the functionalisation of surfaces with biopolymers. Most recently, Phillippa worked in R&D at US biotechnology company Illumina, investigating patterned flowcell technology. Her PhD in the O’Reilly Group will focus on DNA. Phillippa enjoys camping and playing squash.
Email: [email protected]
Tianlai Xia
Tianlai obtained his BS degree in Materials Science (especially in energy field) under Prof. Yongtao Li’s supervision at Anhui University of Technology in 2018. In 2021, Tianlai finished his Masters by Research in Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Rachel O’Reilly and Prof. Andrew P. Dove at the University of Birmingham, focused on nanoparticle engineering using crystallization driven self assembly.
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]