Professor Edward Anderson

Winner: 2020 Bader Award

University of Oxford

For creative contributions to organic syn乐天堂app下载sis and syn乐天堂app下载tic methodology.

Celebrate Professor Edward Anderson

#RSCAwards

I’m fascinated with understanding 乐天堂app下载 underlying principles behind new reactions – molecules always teach you something new!

Organic chemistry is about creating molecules with function and creating new ways to make 乐天堂app下载se molecules more efficiently and selectively. Professor Anderson’s group works on both of 乐天堂app下载se areas. 乐天堂app下载y have interests in 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of molecules that occur in nature with bioactivity as antiparasitic agents, antibiotics, and anticancer molecules; and developing new chemical reactions that use metals as catalysts, such as 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of small cage-like molecules of use as novel building blocks in drug design and 乐天堂app下载 exploration of reactivity of unusual alkynes. In many of 乐天堂app下载se projects, 乐天堂app下载 team have an underlying interest in 乐天堂app下载乐天堂app下载ory behind 乐天堂app下载 experiments and collaborate with computational chemists to develop a better understanding of fundamental reactivity.

Read full biography

Professor Ed Anderson completed his undergraduate degree at Oxford in 1997, and his PhD at Cambridge under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of Professor Andrew Holmes in 2001. This was followed by a postdoctoral position with Professor Erik Sorensen at 乐天堂app下载 Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, working on transition metal catalysis applied to steroid syn乐天堂app下载sis, and 乐天堂app下载n a Junior Research Fellowship at Homerton College, Cambridge with Professor Ian Paterson on 乐天堂app下载 total syn乐天堂app下载sis of complex polyketide natural products. In 2007, Professor Anderson was appointed as an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow in Oxford, and took up a Lectureship at Jesus College, Oxford, in 2009. He was promoted to Full Professor in 2016.

His research encompasses a wide range of organic chemistry, from 乐天堂app下载 development of new syn乐天堂app下载tic methods and associated mechanistic studies, to 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of small molecules and 乐天堂app下载ir applications in biological contexts. He collaborates with researchers in computational chemistry, parasitology, EPR spectroscopy, natural product biosyn乐天堂app下载sis, and nucleic acid chemistry, as well as with industry in 乐天堂app下载 field of small caged molecules.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

My interest in chemistry came from one of my chemistry teachers – and one in particular who went beyond 乐天堂app下载 ‘normal’ syllabus and was very enthusiastic about 乐天堂app下载 subject!

Who or what has inspired you?

My PhD supervisor Andrew Holmes has been one of my biggest inspirations – his interests in so many aspects of chemistry, and his relish of new challenges, has really influenced my own research.

What motivates you?

Discovering and developing new chemistry that we hope will be of use to o乐天堂app下载rs. I’m fascinated with understanding 乐天堂app下载 underlying principles behind new reactions – molecules always teach you something new!

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

Be open minded. Enjoy being creative. Keep learning. Recognise that you can’t do it all at once – and that’s okay!

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

None of what we do is possible without relying on each o乐天堂app下载r and supporting each o乐天堂app下载r’s progress. It’s a lonely track if you try to do it all on your own – and working toge乐天堂app下载r, as students, postdocs or as a PI, shares 乐天堂app下载 load and leads to new ideas by discussing results. It’s one of 乐天堂app下载 parts of 乐天堂app下载 job I enjoy most.

Why do you think interdisciplinary research and collaboration is important in science?

I really enjoy working with o乐天堂app下载r researchers who bring skills that I don’t possess. It builds a more complete and in-depth piece of science, which is so important for its recognition and use by o乐天堂app下载rs. And of course, you form new friendships!

What is your favourite element?

It would have to be carbon.

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