Dr Alastair J. J. Lennox
The PI of our group is interested in fundamental reactivity and mechanism in organic chemistry, and exploiting modern innovative technologies, such electrochemistry, to develop new synthetic reactions with a strong focus on sustainability and practicality.
For more information see: CV, Awards, Presentations, Google Scholar, Academic Tree, ORCID
Postdoctoral Researchers
Melissa Longuet
Melissa studied at University of Poitiers before joining the superacid group under the supervision of Pr. Sebastien Thibaudeau to undertake her PhD studies. Her work focused on the determination and exploitation of the Hammett acidity of HF/base reagents. In 2025 Melissa joined the Lennox Lab to explore new methods for electrochemical fluorination.
Mickaël Avanthay
Mickaël completed his undergraduate studies at ETH Zürich and then completed the AstraZeneca R&D graduate program in Sweden before joining the Lennox Lab to investigate reductive electrochemical methods. Upon completion he returned to the Lennox Lab for postdoctoral studies.
Bin Ling
Bin Ling joined the Lennox Lab in November 2024, where he is focusing on 3D printing electrochemical reactor. He earned his PhD from the University of Liverpool, where he developed 3D-printed porous functional materials for gas adsorption and energy storage. Prior to that, he completed his Master's degree at Hunan University in China. With expertise in 3D printing, materials science, and chemistry, Bin is dedicated to integrating these disciplines to advance sustainable energy solutions.
Dr. Zhenhao (George) Zhong
George graduated with a BSc in Chemistry in a 3+1 joint programme between Nanjing Tech University and the University of Sheffield in 2019. Then he completed his MRes and PhD degrees at Imperial College London under the supervision of Prof. James A. Bull. His work focused on the synthesis of sulfoximines with reactive functionalities. In 2024 George joined the Lennox Lab to investigate the synthesis of fluorine-functionalised quinones via electrochemical fluorination.
Dr. Mohamed Elsherbini
Mohamed graduated with a BSc in chemistry from Mansoura University, Egypt and returned in 2014 to complete his PhD under the supervision of Professors Hanafi Zoorob and Wafaa Hamama on the synthesis of biologically active selenium-containing heterocycles. He was then appointed as a chemistry lecturer at the Saudi Mining Polytechnic before moving to Cardiff in 2016 to join the group of Professor Thomas Wirth to study hypervalent iodine chemistry and enabling technologies in organic synthesis. They later worked in collaboration with Professor Rudolf Allemann to develop preparations of artemisnin under flow conditions. Following this he moved to the University of Huddersfield in 2019 to join Dr Wesley Moran and work on the electrochemical synthesis of iodine compounds. In 2022 Mohamed joined the Lennox Lab to explore new methods for selective electrochemical fluorination.
Dr. Alexi Sedikides
Alexi graduated from Cardiff University with an MChem before joining the Lennox Lab to do his PhD. His work focussed on developing alkyne fluorination protocols in collaboration with UCB. Upon completion he returned to the Lennox Lab for postdoctoral studies.
Dr. Samuel Deeks
Sam carried out his MSci project in the Faul lab at the University of Bristol. His PhD project was in developing new materials and reactor designs in collaboration with the Faul group. Upon completion he returned to the Lennox Lab for postdoctoral studies.
Florian Dorchies
Florian studied at Ecole normale supérieure Paris-Saclay and Sorbonne Université before doing his PhD at Collège de France in Paris under the supervision of Dr. Alexis Grimaud. His work focused on the study of hybrid organic solvent/water electrolyte structure for applications in electrosynthesis. In 2024 Florian joined the Lennox Lab to explore new electrochemical reactions.
Andrew Lacey
Andrew carried out his MChem degree at the University of Warwick before joining the Lennox Lab to undertake his PhD studies. His project focussed on mechanistic investigations of alkene fluorofunctionalisation reactions. Upon completion of his PhD, he returned to the Lennox Lab for postdoctoral studies.
PhD Students
Stephen Sweeting
2021
Stephen joins the Lennox Lab having completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. He completed summer placements and his final year project in the Hall group. Stephen will be developing electrochemical fluorination protocols.
Luke Ward
2022
Luke completed his MChem at the University of Cardiff where he spent a placement year at Hoffmann La Roche in Basel. Luke then worked at Nanopharm before joining the Lennox Lab where he will focus on developing electrochemical fluorination methodology.
Harvey Randle
2023
Harvey graduated from St. Anne's College, University of Oxford in 2022. During his final year research project, he worked with Prof. Jeremy Robertson investigating oxonium Diels-Alder reactions of 2 and 3-alkyl substituted cyclopentenones. He joins the Lennox Lab from the TECS CDT to explore fluorination reactions using hypervalent iodine reagents.
Anthony Abel
2023
Anthony graduated from the University of Leicester in 2021 where he worked with Dr Alexander Pulis on B(C6F5)3-catalysed reactions of anilines with alkenes for his final year project. He then completed a PGCE at Queens' College, University of Cambridge before joining the Lennox Lab via the TECS CDT to explore fluorination methodology.
Tom O'Brien
2023
Tom completed his MSci at the University of Bristol in 2022, where during his research project he worked on the direct amination of boronic esters in the Aggarwal group. He went on to complete multiple placements in the Lennox Lab and is now doing his PhD in the group where he will be investigating electrode materials for organic electrosynthesis.
Charu Bansal
2023
Charu completed her M.Sc. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India. During her final year, she joined Prof. Sundargopal Ghosh's Lab and worked on activation of small molecules. She has joined the Lennox lab in 2023 to explore C-H fluorination methods.
Olly Fifield
2025
Olly graduated from Van Mildert College, Durham University in 2024. During his final year research project, he worked with Professor Andreas Kirschning and Professor Ian Baxendale at Leibniz Universität Hannover investigating the transfer of the Eschenmoser fragmentation to flow conditions. He joins the Lennox Lab from the TECS CDT to explore fluorination reactions using hypervalent iodine reagents.