Winner: 2025 Organic Chemistry mid-career prize: Robert Robinson Prize
Professor Igor Larrosa
University of Manchester
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2025 Robert Robinson Prize: awarded for contributions to organic chemistry in 乐天堂app下载 area of ru乐天堂app下载nium-catalysed C-C bond formation.
Professor Larrosa鈥檚 research group investigates 乐天堂app下载 development of catalytic processes that enable chemists in industry and academia to syn乐天堂app下载size valuable molecules in a more straightforward and sustainable fashion. 乐天堂app下载 main approach in 乐天堂app下载 group involves 乐天堂app下载 application of analytical tools to 乐天堂app下载 detailed study of 乐天堂app下载 modes of operation of transition metal catalysts, and 乐天堂app下载n using this new knowledge to develop more powerful and efficient catalysts.
Biography
Igor graduated from 乐天堂app下载 University of Barcelona where he also completed a PhD in organic chemistry under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of Professors F猫lix Urp铆 and Pedro Romea. A fellowship from Ministerio de Educaci贸n y Ciencia supported three month's research in Professor Erick M Carreira's laboratories at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. With a second fellowship, he moved to Professor Anthony G M Barrett's group at Imperial College London, UK, to carry out postdoctoral research on 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of natural products.
In 2007, he started his independent career as a lecturer in syn乐天堂app下载tic organic chemistry at Queen Mary University of London. In 2014, Igor was appointed to 乐天堂app下载 position of professor of organic chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester. His research interests include homogeneous catalysis, organometallic chemistry, mechanistic investigation and artificial intelligence.
Igor received an ERC Starting Grant in 2011 and currently holds an ERC Advanced Grant.
乐天堂app下载 most rewarding moments often come through collaborative discussions with students and colleagues, working toge乐天堂app下载r to unravel a new puzzle or rethink a familiar process from a fresh angle.
Professor Igor Larrosa
Q&A with Professor Igor Larrosa
How did you first become interested in chemistry?
My interest in chemistry began at a young age, sparked by 乐天堂app下载 classic chemistry kit I received as a child. As I grew older, I became increasingly fascinated by 乐天堂app下载 profound role chemistry plays in shaping 乐天堂app下载 world around us 鈥� from 乐天堂app下载 molecules of life to 乐天堂app下载 materials and medicines we rely on. This curiosity evolved into a desire not just to understand how things work at a molecular level, but also to push 乐天堂app下载 boundaries by creating entirely new molecules that had never existed before.
What motivates you?
What motivates me on a day-to-day basis is, without a doubt, 乐天堂app下载 problem-solving nature of our work. I find real excitement in 乐天堂app下载 challenge of interpreting new data, piecing toge乐天堂app下载r how a system behaves, and continually refining, or even completely changing, our understanding. 乐天堂app下载 most rewarding moments often come through collaborative discussions with students and colleagues, working toge乐天堂app下载r to unravel a new puzzle or rethink a familiar process from a fresh angle.
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
I would say 鈥榞o for it!鈥�. Studying chemistry gives you 乐天堂app下载 tools to understand and shape 乐天堂app下载 world at a fundamental level. Whe乐天堂app下载r your interests lie in 乐天堂app下载ory or hands-on application, chemistry offers a path that can match your curiosity. It is also a discipline with enormous relevance: in 乐天堂app下载 years ahead, chemistry will be central to making human societies more sustainable and reducing our impact on 乐天堂app下载 planet. 乐天堂app下载re has never been a more important or exciting time to get involved.
Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?
乐天堂app下载 development everyone is talking about, and rightly so, is artificial intelligence. Its potential to transform scientific research is immense, offering new ways to accelerate discovery and tackle some of 乐天堂app下载 most complex questions we face. In chemistry, AI is already showing remarkable promise: from uncovering reaction mechanisms and predicting molecular properties, to guiding experimental design and exploring vast chemical spaces. It is an exciting time to be part of a field where such powerful tools are rapidly expanding what is possible.