Current Group

Dr Maximilian Dietz

Max studied at JMU Würzburg including a research stay with Prof Andrew Weller, and obtained his PhD under the supervision of Prof Holger Braunschweig, where he worked on the synthesis and reactivity of neutral diboraarenes (click on picture for link). In January 2024 he joined the Aldridge group with a Humboldt Feodor-Lynen Fellowship to investigate aluminium-transition metal bimetallic systems. Outside of chemistry, he enjoys playing squash and badminton, playing instruments and meeting friends.

Dr Job Struijs

Job completed both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the Eindhoven University of Technology, being interested in both chemistry and chemical engineering. His Master's thesis research was concerned with carbon dioxide hydrogenation on reducible oxide supports. He has recently completed his doctorate on the OxICFM programme working on a collaborative fluoride project with Véronique Gouverneur's group (click on his pic for some of his recent work).

Dr Nils Ansmann

Nils studied at the Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg in Germany, which included a research stay with Kit Cummins at MIT, and obtained his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Lutz Greb. His PhD thesis focused on the application of group 14 Lewis acids in catalysis (depolymerization of polyethers) and coordination chemistry (as Z-type ligands for late transition metals). In January 2026, he will join the Aldridge group to further pursue his interest in bimetallic systems for bond activation. Outside of the lab, he spends his time playing handball or cooking Mediterranean food.

Dr Leonie Wüst

Leonie studied at JMU Würzburg and obtained her PhD under the supervision of Prof Holger Braunschweig, where she investigated the pharmaceutical and photochemical properties of benzodiazaborines. In April 2026 she will join the Aldrige group with a Humboldt Feodor-Lynen Fellowship to work on the catalytic activation of hydrocarbons. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, running and knitting.

Aidan Murray

Aidan - completed his final year (Part 2) research project in the group in 2022 and is now part of the OxICFM CDT working on a project on hemilabile ligands in main group catalysis. In his leisure time he enjoys playing chess and going on long walks.

Eve Poland

Eve completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia. She joined the Aldridge group and commenced her DPhil in 2023, and is investigating the capacity of group 14 elements to activate small molecules.

Amelia Swarbrook

Amelia completed her undergraduate degree at Keele University. Her final year project investigated boron and nitrogen doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as catalysts for small molecule activation. She is undertaking her DPhil project as part of the OxICFM CDT, focusing on designing BN fibres from molecular precursors in collaboration with the Grobert group. Outside of the lab, Amelia enjoys rowing, travelling, and cooking.

James Stewart-Moreno

James completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham. As part of the 2023 OxICFM cohort, his DPhil project on aluminium bimetallic compounds for small molecule and C-H activation is shared with the Timmel group. Outside of the lab, James enjoys martial arts and cooking.

James Morgan

Originally from Derbyshire, James completed his undergraduate degree at St John’s College, Oxford. His Part II year was spent in the group investigating zirconium trielyl complexes. He continued in the group for his PhD as part of the Queen’s College with the Acheson Hill scholarship, where he is working on non-reductive trielyl synthetic methods. In his free time, James enjoys watching ice hockey and a trip down the pub...

Maisy Barnett

Maisy studied for her MSci degree in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, spending her second year summer exploring her interests in photoredox and electrochemistry for catalysis with Professor Mike George, and her final year working on a synthetic research project in the Liam Ball group. She is part of the IMAT CDT and is working on a new project on bismuth chemistry with the Mehta group.

Robert Douglas

Robert completed his MChem at the University of Manchester in 2024, undertaking his project with Dr Darren Willcox looking at iron phosphine-borane complexes, having previously undertaken a year in industry at Mitsubishi Chemical Group in Redcar, where he looked at new routes to the production of methyl methacrylate. He is working on a joint project with the Gouverneur group as part of the IMAT CDT.

Sam Power

Sam is from London and recently completed his MChem at the University of Oxford. During his Master's research project, he investigated a simplified approach to flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor recycling to drive biocatalytic halogenation, supervised by Prof Kylie Vincent. His doctoral project is joint with the Gouverneur group as part of the IMAT CDT, investigating the repurposing of fluoride from PFAS. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis and piano, and spending time with friends.

Elouise Griffin

Elouise completed her undergraduate degree at Trinity College Dublin. As part of her final year project, she investigated the effects of non-covalent interactions on the catalytic properties of dimeric palladium complexes through cross-coupling reactions. Now, she is part of the 2025 IMAT CDT cohort and shares her project on open-shell iron-boryl complexes for strong bond activation with the Neidig group. Outside the lab, Elouise enjoys going to concerts, reading, and travelling.

Sean Lim

Sean obtained his undergraduate degree from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has developed a keen interest in Main Group chemistry and his final year project was based on carbenes. He joined the Aldridge group in Oct 2025 as a DPhil student and hopes to expand on current Al(I) and carbene species. Outside from the lab, he enjoys gaming and listening to music.

Julia Haag

Julia completed her Bachelor's thesis at the University of Freiburg in Germany. Her thesis research focussed on electrochemical screening and characterisation of additives for Si-anodes in lithium-ion batteries. As part of her Master's program she’s doing a 6-month internship in the Aldridge group investigating aluminyl-complexes. Outside of chemistry, she enjoys cooking, drawing and dancing.

Maisie Lambert

Maisie is a part II student from Newcastle, studying at the Queen's College, and researching into germanium complexes for small molecule activation. Outside of the lab she enjoys history podcasts, supporting Newcastle United, and travelling

Harry Priddle

Harry is a final year (Part 2) student from Balliol College - working on magnesium complexes for the polymerisation of borazine. Outside of the lab he enjoys playing squash, and watching football and F1

Hugo Saint

Hugo is an undergraduate at St John’s, doing his part II project on transition metal boryl complexes. Outside of the lab he plays in a few bands and enjoys a game of squash.