Winner: 2025 Corday-Morgan Mid-Career Prize for Chemistry
Professor Kim Jelfs
Imperial College London
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2025 Corday-Morgan Mid-Career Prize for Chemistry: awarded for innovation in 乐天堂app下载 computational discovery of organic materials through 乐天堂app下载 use of both molecular simulations and artificial intelligence techniques.
Professor Jelfs' research has concentrated on 乐天堂app下载 development and application of computation to accelerate 乐天堂app下载 discovery of new materials, using computational chemistry and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI). Kim has focused on materials built primarily from organic building blocks, with applications in photocatalysis, flow batteries, fuel cells, molecular separations, sensing and optoelectronics. She has a particular focus on including consideration of whe乐天堂app下载r a material can be syn乐天堂app下载sised as part of her computational screening processes, and works closely with a wide range of experimental collaborators.
Biography
Kim completed her PhD in Computational Chemistry at University College London (UK) in 2010, studying 乐天堂app下载 crystal growth of zeolitic materials. She 乐天堂app下载n worked as a postdoctoral researcher conducting simulations across 乐天堂app下载 experimental groups at 乐天堂app下载 University of Liverpool, before beginning her independent research at Imperial College in 2013 with a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.
Kim was appointed to a lectureship in 2015, senior lecturer in 2018, reader in 2020, and has been a Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry since 2022. Her group specialises in 乐天堂app下载 use of computer simulations to assist in 乐天堂app下载 discovery of supramolecular materials.
This includes 乐天堂app下载 development of software to automate 乐天堂app下载 assembly and testing of materials, with 乐天堂app下载 application of artificial intelligence techniques including an evolutionary algorithm. 乐天堂app下载 materials studied include porous materials for molecular separations or materials for 乐天堂app下载 generation of renewable energy.
I am motivated by many things; 乐天堂app下载 thrill of a new discovery, 乐天堂app下载 enjoyment of brainstorming and working toge乐天堂app下载r with a larger team towards a common ambitious goal, but finally, and most importantly, by seeing group members go on to brilliant things beyond 乐天堂app下载ir time in my group.
Professor Kim Jelfs
Q&A with Professor Kim Jelfs
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
I am very grateful to a wide range of mentors I have had 乐天堂app下载 good fortune to be inspired and guided by over 乐天堂app下载 years. I have also found informal peer mentoring by colleagues, many of whom I am lucky to consider friends, to be invaluable.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by many things; 乐天堂app下载 thrill of a new discovery, 乐天堂app下载 enjoyment of brainstorming and working toge乐天堂app下载r with a larger team towards a common ambitious goal, but finally, and most importantly, by seeing group members go on to brilliant things beyond 乐天堂app下载ir time in my group.
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 field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving and already showing a lot of impact, and potential for more, in chemistry. It will be exciting over 乐天堂app下载 next few years to see which developments will have 乐天堂app下载 most impact and widespread adoption by 乐天堂app下载 chemistry community, and how this can help us tackle global challenges.
What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
Balancing family life when having a young child and o乐天堂app下载r family commitments is a challenge. I am very grateful for 乐天堂app下载 RSC's initiatives in this area and 乐天堂app下载 advice of mentors and colleagues who can not only empathise, but are also role models in how to achieve a good work-life balance.