The European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus) programme is a European student exchange programme established in 1987. It forms a major part of the European Union's Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013. The Department of Chemistry, Imperial College have specific Erasmus exchange agreements with a select group of European Partner Chemistry Departments in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands, as well as equivalent bilateral student exchange agreements with the ETH Zuerich and EPFL, Lausanne (Switzerland), Emory University (USA) and NTU (Singapore).
The Imperial College Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) was established in 1981 and provides an opportunity for students who have yet to graduate from their masters degree to participate in real research, typically during 8-10 week periods over the Summer vacation period. Funding for UROP projects in the Spivey Group have come from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, The Nuffield Foundation, The Wellcome Trust and from Imperial College UROP Bursaries.
The Spivey Group have also hosted a series of Summer Exchange Students from the University of Salamanca, Spain, funded by that University, mainly from the group of Prof. David Diez.
Ethan Chen
Dates: Oct 2021 - Apr 2022 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student at Imperial College London
Project: xxx
Sponsor: UROP
Whereabouts: Finishing MSci at Imperial College London
Carmen Timpau
Dates: Oct 2021 - Apr 2022 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student at Imperial College London
Project: xxx
Sponsor: UROP
Whereabouts: Finishing MSci at Imperial College London
Si Zhe Wang
Dates: Oct 2021 - Apr 2022 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student at Imperial College London
Project: xxx
Sponsor: UROP
Whereabouts: Finishing MSci at Imperial College London
Daghan Taser
Dates: Oct 2021 - Apr 2022 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSc student at Leibniz Universität Hannover
Project: Total synthesis of (−)-lycorine
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Finishing MSc at Leibniz Universität Hannover
Maike Birkner
Dates: Oct 2019 - Mar 2020 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSc student at Leibniz Universität Hannover
Project: Small molecule α-helix mimetics for simulating a protein-protein interaction in androgen receptors
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Finishing MSc at Leibniz Universität Hannover
Kirana Veeranna
Dates: Jun 2019 - Sept 2019 (IMPERIAL)
Background: PhD student at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Project: Synthesis of asymmetric pyridine-N-oxides for kinetic resolution
Sponsor: British Council, Newton-Bhabha Scholarship
Whereabouts: Finishing PhD at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Daniel Castellano Garrido
Dates: July 2019 - Sept 2019 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student in Biochemistry at University College, London
Project: Synthesis of diazirine-based photoaffinity labels for chemical proteomics
Sponsor: UROP student
Whereabouts: Finishing BSc at University College, London
Zuzanna Mackiewicz
Dates: Aug 2018 - Oct 2018 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student at Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
Project: Synthesis of aryl sulfonyl chlorides for use in kinetic resolution
Sponsor: UROP student
Whereabouts: MSc student at Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
Sarah Patterson
Dates: July 2017 - Sept 2017 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student in Chemistry with Industrial Experience (GSK) at IMPERIAL
Project: Towards the synthesis of hydroxy-evoninic acid
Sponsor: UROP student (RSC Nuffield)
Whereabouts: Finishing MSci at IMPERIAL
Malcolm Choo
Dates: May 2017 - July 2017 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student in Chemistry with Specialisation in Medicinal Chemistry at NUS, Singapore
Project: Identifying the fungal protein target of the antifungal natural product cordigol using a chemical proteomics approach
Sponsor: UROP student
Whereabouts: Research Assistant at NUS, Singapore
Pol Hernández
Dates: Feb 2017 - June 2017 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student at the University of Barcelona
Project: Asymmetric phosphorylation via atropisomeric pyridine-N-oxide catalysis
Sponsor: The Erasmus+ Mobility Programme
Whereabouts: One year placement at GSK (Stevenage)
Adrian Gheata
Dates: Jan 2017 - May 2017 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Bsc student at EPFL, Lausanne
Project: The asymmetric desymmetrisation of meso-diols
Sponsor: Erasmus exchange programme
Whereabouts: Finishing his BSc degree at EPFL
Lukas Laetsch
Dates: Jan 2017 - March 2017 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student at ETH Zurich
Project: The total synthesis of Cordigol
Sponsor: The Swiss-European Mobility Programme
Whereabouts: Finishing his BSc degree at ETH
Onur Guzel
Dates: Aug 2016 - Sept 2016 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student at IMPERIAL
Project: Synthesis of 1,2-diketone precursors for Benzilic Ester Rearrangements (BERs) – Towards hydroxy-evoninic acid
Sponsor: EPSRC sponsored Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Placement at GSK Stevenage, then MSci project in the group
Shijia Liu
Dates: June 2016 - Aug 2016 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student at IMPERIAL
Project: Step by step catalytic cycles
Sponsor: Imperial College UROP student
Whereabouts: Finishing her BSc degree
Richard Surginor
Dates: Jan 2016 - Sept 2016 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci student at Queens University Belfast
Project: Towards the development of a blood-filter device for the removal of damaging products of haemolysis
Sponsor: Imperial College Strategic Research Funds
Whereabouts: Studying for a PhD in Oxford University
Thomas Frossard
Dates: November 2015 - April 2016 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSc at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Project: Total synthesis of (−)-Lycorine
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD at ETH Zurich
Adriano Bauer
Dates: March 2015 - Aug 2015 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Masters student at University of Bologna
Project: Kinetic resolution of amines
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Unknown
Lucy Harwood
Dates: June 2015 - Aug 2015 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MSci Queens University, Belfast
Project: Asymmetric synthesis of phosphorothioate-nucleosides using atropisometic pyridine-N-oxide catalysis
Sponsor: Imperial College
Whereabouts: PhD University of Oxford
Lisa Barbaro
Dates: Oct 2013 - Feb 2015 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Bsc (Hons) degree at Monash University, Australia
Project: Towards the development of a blood-filter device for the removal of damaging products of haemolysis
Sponsor: Imperial College Strategic Research Funds
Whereabouts: PhD student at Monash University
Daniel Dunkelmann
Dates: Feb 2014 - June 2014 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Masters student at ETH, Zurich
Project: Catalytic asymmetric sulfonylation methodology for amines
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: MIT, Cambridge
Mathias Mamboury
Dates: Sep 2013 - March 2014 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Masters student at EPFL, Switzerland
Project: Total synthesis of Lophirone H via an oxonium-Prins cyclisation
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: EPFL, Switzerland
Zhennan Liu
Dates: Aug 2013 - Dec 2013 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Masters student at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Project: Development of a new catalytic asymmetric sulfonylation procedure for amines
Sponsor: NTU Exchange programme
Whereabouts: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Savan Chandaria
Dates: Oct 2013 - Dec 2013 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc student at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, USA
Project: Stereoselective rearrangements via alpha-lactone intermediates.
Sponsor: Emory-IC Exchange programme
Whereabouts: Emory University in Atlanta, GA, USA
Claire Jarvis
Dates: Aug 2012 – Dec 2012 (IMPERIAL)
Background: MChem Student at Edinburgh University, UK
Project: Towards the Total Synthesis of hydroxyevoninic acid via a benzilic ester rearrangement (BER)
Sponsor: Self-funded student
Whereabouts: PhD Student in Rutgers University, NJ, USA
Eduardo Izquierdo Garcia
Dates: July 2012 – Sep 2012 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc (Pharmacy) Student at University of Barcelona, Spain
Project: Towards the Total Synthesis of Lophirone H
Sp onsor: Self-funded student
Whereabouts: University of Barcelona, Spain
Jonas Hühn
Dates: April 2012 – Aug 2012 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Masters Student at Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
Project: Towards a Catalytic Asymmetric BER
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
Kerti Ausmees
Dates: Sept. 2010 – Feb 2011 & Aug 2011 – Nov 2011 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 4th Year PhD student in the group of Professor Tonis Kanger in the Department of Chemistry, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Project: development of atropisomeric nucleophilic organocatalysts for the acylative kinetic resolution of amines
Spo nsor: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Whereabouts: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Renske Raaphorst
Dates: Mar 2011 – Sept 2011 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 2nd Year MSc Student (Drug Innovation) at Utrecht University
Project: Development of cold precursors for 18F labelled epidermal growth factor receptor imaging agents for Positron Emission Tomography
Sponsor: Utrecht Graduate Scholarship Fund
Whereabouts: PhD student in VUmc Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Zsofia Heckenast
Dates: July 2011 – Sep 2011 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 3rd Year Msci Student at Bristol University
Project: Towards Decalin Sulfenic Acids
Sponsor: Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship
Whereabouts: PhD in the Group
Zeqi Yang
Dates: July 2011 – Sep 2011
Background: 2nd Year Imperial College BSc Student
Project: An experimental and computational investigation into the mechanism of cyanation of aryldiazonium salts – SNAr, benzyne or SN1 mechanism?
Sponsor: Imperial College UROP Scholarship
Whereabouts: Year 3 of BSc degree at Imperial College
Magda Blanco Zuniga
Dates: Feb 2010 – June 2011 (IMPERIAL)
Background: PhD student at the University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: Synthesis of a new nicotinic receptor tracer based on 5-IA using a germanium-based phase tag
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: PhD at University of Salamanca, Spain
Amanda Teng
Dates: Oct. 2010 – Jan. 2011 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 4th year Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
Project: development of antagonists of the IgE-FceRI protein protein interaction
Sponsor: UROP/self-fund student
Whereabouts: NTU, Singapore
Wang Hei (Elvis) Ng
Dates: Aug. 2010 – Sept. 2010 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 2nd year Imperial College UG
Project: A Sonogashira approach to tetrahydroquinolones
Sponsor: Nuffield Summer Bursary
Whereabouts: Imperial College London, UK
Eugene Chia
Dates: Jun. 2009 – Aug. 2009 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 2nd year Imperial College UG
Project: Synthesis of 5-azaindolines
Sponsor: UROP/self-fund student
Whereabouts: Imperial College London, UK
Cynthia Sheng Hu
Dates: Jun 2008 – Sep. 2008 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Nanjing Universityshenghu, China
Project: Towards the synthesis of hydroxy-iso-evoninic acid
Sponsor: UROP/self-fund student
Whereabouts: Nanjing University, China
Araceli Blanco
Dates: Jul. 2008 - Sep. 2008 (IMPERIAL)
Background: PhD student at the University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: New approaches to cis-cyclohexadiene-diols and derivatives
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: PhD at University of Salamanca, Spain
Almudena Conde
Dates: Jul. 2007 – Sep. 2007 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: New approaches to cis-cyclohexadiene-diols and derivatives
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: PhD at University of Salamanca, Spain
Mungyuen Li
Dates: Jun. 2007 – Aug. 2007 (IMPERIAL)
Background: 2nd year Imperial College UG
Project: Towards the synthesis of a protein sulfenic acid model
Sponsor: UROP/Nuffield Foundation student
Whereabouts: Imperial College London, UK. PhD with Prof. Ian Patterson, University of Cambridge, UK
Markus Wolf
Dates: Oct. 2006 – Jun. 2007 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Ludwigs Maximillian University (LMU) Munich, Germany
Project: DMAP catalysed asymmetric amination
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD, Ludwigs Maximillian University (LMU) Munich, Germany
Olga Bodero Bahillo
Dates: Jun. 2006 - Sep. 2006 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: DMAP catalysed asymmetric amination
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: PhD with Dr Pilar Basabe Barcala, Dr Isido Sanchez Marcos and Prof Julio Gonzalez Urones at theUniversity of Salamanca, Spain
Thomas Hampel
Dates: Mar. 2006 – Jul. 2006 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Wurtzburg, Germany
Project: DMAP catalysed asymmetric amination
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD student with Prof. Thorsten Bach, Technical Universit y of Munich, Germany
Marta Garcia
Date s: Jul. 2005 – Sep. 2005 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: Synthesis of Chiral N-oxides via Rhenium catalysed deoxygenative kinetic resolution
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: PhD student at University of Salamanca, Spain
Jan Nievendick
Dates: Oct. 2005 – Mar. 2006 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany
Project: Synthesis of 3-Aminopyrimidines using soluble Ge-polymers
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD student at Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg in conjunction with Fraunhofer ISE
Luca Anfossi
Dates: Feb. 2005.-.Jul. 2005 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Bologna, Italy
Project: Synthesis of antagonists of the allergic response
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Unknown
Gisela Fontaine
Dates: Jan. 2005 - Mar. 2005 (IMPERIAL)
Background: ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Project: 3-Aminopyrimidines using soluble Ge-polymers
Sponsor: Erasmus students
Whereabouts: PhD at ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Markus Meise
Dates: Jan 2004-Mar 2004 (IMPERIAL)
Background: Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany
Project: 3-Aminopyrimidines using soluble Ge-polymers
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD at Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany
Kordi Ijeoma Chigboh
Dates: Jun. 2003-Jul. 2003 (IMPERIAL)
Background: BSc University of Salford, UK
Project: Towards the synthesis of a protein sulfenic acid model
Sponsor: Pfizer sponsored summer studentship
Whereabouts: PhD with Dr Rob Stockman at University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Maria Gil Ingelmo
Dates: Jul. 2003-Sept. 2003 (IMPERIAL)
Background: University of Salamanca, Spain
Project: Aproaches to 'tropos' chiral DMAP molecules
Sponsor: University of Salamanca sponsored summer student
Whereabouts: Unknown
Ruth de Andres de Prado
Dates: Mar. 2000-Aug. 2000 (SHEFFIELD)
Background: University of Madrid, Spain
Project: Towards the synthesis of a protein sulfenic acid model
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: Unknown
Jan-Philip Plog
Dates: Oct. 1999-Apr. 2000 (SHEFFIELD)
Background: University of Hamburg, Germany
Project: Catalyst optimisation of chiral DMAP molecules
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD in the University of Hamburg, Germany
Jörg Ortner
Dates: Oct. 1996-Apr. 1997 (SHEFFIELD)
Background: Technischen Universitat Graz, Austria
Project: Synthetic approaches to (-)-lycorine
Sponsor: Erasmus student
Whereabouts: PhD with Prof. Herfried Gringel, Institut fur Organische Chemie der Technischen Universitat Graz, Austria.Infineon, Villach, Austria
Contact details
Email: a.c.spivey@imperial.ac.uk
Skype: alan.spivey
Tel & Fax: +44 (0)20 75945841
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